Adhokshajananda said – strict laws should be made on cow slaughter
Prayagraj: The two-day festival organised on the occasion of the 30th death anniversary of Brahmalin Shankaracharya Swami Shri Niranjandev Tirtha Ji Maharaj of Govardhan Math Puri at Shankaracharya Ashram located on Jatipura Parikrama Marg of Govardhan concluded with great pomp on Saturday. On the second day of the program, Jagadguru Nabha Peethadheeshwar Sutikshan Devacharya (Sudama Kuti, Vrindavan) paid floral tributes to the portrait of the departed Shankaracharya and remembered his messages after meeting Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajananda Dev Tirtha Maharaj. Nabha Peethadheeshwar Sutikshan Das Maharaj said that the way Shankaracharya Niranjandev Tirtha Maharaj had done the work of hoisting the flag of religion all over the world, the same tradition is being carried forward by the present Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajananda Dev Tirtha Maharaj. He said that Shankaracharya is travelling across undivided India, this is a big achievement for Sanatan Dharma, due to which Sanatanis living in other countries will get an opportunity to know about our country and culture and connect with it.
A pledge to protect Sanatan culture was taken at the Dharmasabha: A large Dharmasabha was organized under the chairmanship of Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajanand Devacharya Maharaj. Sadhus, saints, and religious leaders from across the country, who attended the Dharmasabha, emphasized the need to protect Sanatan culture, connect youth with religion, and preserve ancient heritage. The saints unanimously stated that it is the responsibility of every Sanatani to rise above political differences and protect Sanatan culture and religious sites. Demand for strict laws to ban cow slaughter: In his presidential address, Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajanand Dev Tirtha Maharaj recalled the historic anti-cow slaughter movement led by the late Shankaracharya Niranjandev Tirtha and Dharma Samrat Swami Karpatri Ji Maharaj. He said, “During that period, attempts were made to suppress the voices of the saints, and due to the intransigence of the then governments, innocent saints were even shot at.”
Speaking on the current situation, he said that governments led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are making significant efforts to protect cows. However, he demanded that the central government immediately enact a strict and effective law to completely eliminate cow smuggling and cow slaughter in the country.
The saint community had a dignified presence: Prominent saints from various Akharas and Peethas participated in the death anniversary festival. Among them were Shri Mahant Rajendra Das Ji Maharaj, National President and General Secretary of the Nirmohi Ani Akhara, All India Akhara Parishad; Dwaracharya Ghamand Devacharya; Swami Renu Gopal Devacharya; Shri Mahant Jayaram Ji (Kaladhari Ashram); Mahamandaleshwar Chetan Das (Kosi); Moni Baba; Shri Mahant Madhav Das (Digambar Ani Akhara); Shri Mahant Govind Das; Dwaracharya Vitthal Devacharya; Swami Bhaiya Ji Maharaj; Mahamandaleshwar Parameshwar Das; Shri Mahant Sundar Das; and Shri Mahant Ladli Sharan Das; Shri Mahant Purushottamacharya of the Ramanuja sect; Raghunath Ashram Vrindavan; and many other prominent religious leaders.
Gathering of political and social figures from across the country: During the two-day event, many prominent political and social figures of the country visited the ashram and paid their respects. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh was present on the first day. On the second day, Saturday, Haryana Minister Gaurav Gautam, MLC Thakur Om Prakash Singh, SP leader Thakur Kishore Singh, BJP leader Rishi Raj Singh, RLD leader Kunwar Narendra Singh, BJP leader Siyaram Sharma, Raja Kundan Singh from Pratapgarh, former MLA Dinesh Mishra from Chitrakoot, former Uttarakhand Minister and current MLA Kishore Upadhyay, Minister of State Ashwani Kumar Tripathi, Assam MLA Suraj Dhingya, former Bengal MLA Abhijit Sinha, and former Bihar MLA Chhatrapati Yadav also paid their respects to the departed Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajananda Dev Tirtha Maharaj is on a visit to the ashram on his Chaturmas fast and his followers from across the country have been visiting him.
