Prayagraj: A major controversy has erupted at the ongoing Magh Mela in Prayagraj after Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati began an indefinite fast over the denial of permission to take a holy dip at the Sangam with full religious protocol on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. The fast entered its second day on Monday, intensifying tensions between sections of the saint community and the district administration, while also triggering political reactions.
The dispute began on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious bathing days of the Magh Mela, when the Shankaracharya sought permission to proceed to the Sangam Nose with a palanquin, disciples, and devotees, accompanied by police escort and ceremonial protocol. Citing unprecedented crowd pressure at the Sangam, the administration denied permission for a procession and instead offered him the option of proceeding on foot with a limited number of people. The Shankaracharya refused this arrangement, insisting that the dignity of his religious position required a full protocol-led bath.
As negotiations failed, tensions escalated near the Sangam, where scuffles reportedly broke out between police personnel and the Shankaracharya’s supporters. According to reports, at least 12 disciples were injured in the ensuing chaos and were taken to Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital. Three of them, Shiv Shakti, Dangal Singh, and Dr. Durga Prasad Pachauri, were admitted with injuries to the waist and legs. The injured disciples alleged police brutality, while hospital authorities stated that the seriousness of the injuries would be assessed after X-ray examinations.
Following the incident, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati was escorted back to his camp located in Sector-4, Triveni Road, across the Ganga. There, he began an indefinite fast, giving up food and water, and later sat on a dharna outside his camp along with his disciples. Addressing the issue, the Shankaracharya accused the administration of deliberately preventing him from performing a sacred ritual and alleged that senior police officials had manhandled saints. He demanded a public apology from the administration, warning that the saint community would not tolerate such treatment.
The district administration, however, defended its actions, stating that maintaining law and order amid massive crowds was its foremost responsibility. Officials pointed out that nearly 4.52 crore devotees had taken a holy dip at the Sangam on the same day, making strict crowd regulation unavoidable. In a press briefing, the administration reiterated its respect for all saints, Kalpvasis, and pilgrims, but emphasized that no individual, regardless of status, could be allowed to act in a manner that risked public safety or disrupted arrangements.
The incident has also exposed divisions within the saint community itself. Several prominent saints and religious leaders criticised the Shankaracharya’s insistence on special protocol. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajanand of Devtirth Govardhan Peeth remarked that introducing new religious practices during the Magh Mela, such as palanquins or chariots at the Sangam, was neither scripturally sanctioned nor practically appropriate when millions of devotees were present. Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, urged saints to cooperate with the administration, stating that while Swami Avimukteshwaranand is deeply revered, discipline and order must take precedence during large religious gatherings.
Others echoed similar views, noting that traditionally Shankaracharyas do not proceed to the Sangam in processions for ritual baths. At the same time, some saints condemned the alleged police misconduct, stressing that the dignity of ascetics must be preserved even while enforcing regulations.
The controversy has also taken on a political dimension. Congress General Secretary Vivekanand Pathak and former legislator Anugrahan Narayan Singh visited the Shankaracharya, lending political visibility to the issue. Meanwhile, figures like Computer Baba staged dramatic protests, demanding an apology from the administration.
