Donations – Shankaracharya Questions FIR in Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Case

  Donations –  Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Friday questioned the manner in which the investigation into the alleged misuse of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been handled. Addressing reporters during his ongoing Gau Dharma Yatra in Sambhal, he expressed concern that the FIR appeared to focus only on employees involved in counting cash while, according to him, those responsible for any larger financial irregularities had not been brought under scrutiny.

Questions Raised Over Investigation

The Jyotirmath Shankaracharya said that the case should not be limited to staff members responsible for handling currency notes. He argued that employees assigned to sort and count donations could only have limited access to the funds and questioned why the investigation had not extended to individuals who might have exercised greater authority over the donation management process. According to him, if any significant financial wrongdoing had occurred, accountability should reach beyond lower-level workers.

Criticism of Temple Trust Formation

Swami Avimukteshwaranand also revisited his long-standing criticism regarding the formation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He claimed that religious scholars, saints, and traditional spiritual leaders were largely excluded from the trust’s composition, while individuals associated with political leadership were given key responsibilities. He maintained that if fairness had been the guiding principle, the administration of the temple could have been entrusted to senior religious authorities, including the country’s prominent Shankaracharyas and other respected Hindu spiritual leaders.

FIR Registered After SIT Findings

The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested eight people named in the FIR linked to the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram Temple. The case was registered following recommendations made in the preliminary report prepared by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to examine allegations related to the handling of temple donations. The complaint was filed by Krishna Mohan, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Opposition’s Role and Political Remarks

Commenting on the controversy, the Shankaracharya said that the opposition had raised the issue because it believed there were legitimate concerns requiring investigation. He argued that if there had been no basis for the allegations, there would have been no need for an inquiry that ultimately resulted in the registration of an FIR.

He also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that its interpretation of Hindutva did not reflect the principles laid down in Hindu scriptures. According to him, genuine followers of Sanatan Dharma should be guided by the Vedas, religious texts, and spiritual teachers. While acknowledging the BJP as a legally recognised political party, he questioned whether its ideological approach reflected traditional religious teachings.

Remarks on Temple Restoration and Demolitions

The religious leader welcomed the Uttar Pradesh government’s initiative to revive ancient pilgrimage centres in Sambhal’s Kalki Nagari. At the same time, he criticised the demolition of temples in Varanasi, stating that future generations would assess such decisions critically while evaluating the government’s record on heritage preservation.

Gau Dharma Yatra and 2027 Elections

Swami Avimukteshwaranand said his Gau Dharma Yatra, which began on May 3 from Gorakhpur, has covered nearly 170 Assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh. He explained that the campaign aims to encourage voters to support candidates who are committed to cow protection ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Rejecting suggestions that the yatra was designed to benefit any specific political party, he said every party was free to draw political advantage from the campaign if it chose to support its objectives. He added that voters should ultimately back candidates who demonstrate commitment to Sanatan Dharma, expressing hope that such an approach would help shape an alternative political leadership in the future.