Puri: Religious leader, Swami Adhokshjanand Devirath, who has been claiming himself to be Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math arrived at the pilgrim town on Monday.
His arrival in Puri, triggered tension with activists of Aditya Vahini staging an agitation at the railway station here. He arrived at Puri with a couple of supporters in Puri-Howrah Express today morning.
The activists held a protest and did not allow him to move out of the station premises till local police arrived. Adhokshjanand was received by a Mahant of ‘Hati Akhada’ who vouched for the claims of the former that he was the Shankaracharya of Puri.
Later, Adhokshjanand was escorted out of the station and taken to a location in Beleswar, sources said. Meanwhile, protests by Aditya Vahini continued over the presence of the religious leader in Puri.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “There is anarchy in the country and natural calamities are at an all time high. Therefore I have decided to visit all important religious shrine across India. I will participate in the ‘puja’ and ‘havan’ at these places, pray for world peace and nation’s prosperity.”
“In this process, I have come to Odisha as well. Here I will offer prayers at Beleswar temple and take a holy dip in the Sagar (Bay of Bengal). I will consult my followers about the darshan of Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath). There is no court order against me. I do not have to say anything on this,” he added.
Swami Nischalananda Saraswati is the anointed Shankaracharya of Puri, according to the Govardhan Peeth’s official website. Adhokshjanand’s proclamation of being the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Puri has led to controversy in the past.
In 2014, the Swami had announced to campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi. Similarly, in October 2015, Adhokshjanand gifted a cow to the then Uttar Pradesh Minister Mohammed Azam Khan.
