Varanasi: Late on the night of September 29, six men entered the Bada Ganesh Mandir in Kashi, carrying iron rods, hammers, chisels, and white cloths. Their mission: to remove the idol of Sai Baba from the temple. Video footage of the incident, circulated widely on social media, showed one of the men referring to Sai Baba as “Chand-Miyan”—the name given by certain Hindu organizations that oppose his worship in temples alongside Hindu deities.
As the men vandalized the idol with iron rods and hammers, one of them said, “Chand Miyan cannot stay with our gods in this temple. Today, we are sending him off.” The Sai Baba idol was eventually uprooted and covered with a white cloth, and the group claimed they would immerse it in the Ganga. This incident was the first in a series of removals that have triggered a larger controversy across the country.
The Growing Anti-Sai Movement
The Bada Ganesh Mandir in Varanasi is just one of 14 temples in the city where Sai Baba’s idol has been forcibly removed by the Sanatan Rakshak Dal. Led by Ajay Sharma, the organization plans to remove Sai Baba idols from at least 60 more temples in Varanasi alone. Ajay Sharma, who was arrested following these actions, was released after ten days in jail. Hindu organizations, including the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, have now vowed to expand this campaign to 12 states across India.
Mahant Rajnath Tiwari, an influential figure from the Vishalakshi temple in Kashi, voiced support for the removal, citing religious doctrine. “Sanatan Dharma has 33 crore gods and goddesses—why do we need to worship a figure from another religion? Sai Baba can be worshipped privately, but he does not belong in our temples,” Tiwari said, invoking inspiration from the late Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati, who had opposed Sai worship for years.
Where Are the Removed Idols?
The whereabouts of the removed idols remain unknown. According to Rajnath Tiwari, the idols were likely immersed in the Ganga “with full respect.” However, temple priests and local residents remain in the dark. Tensions are escalating as more temples are targeted.
Nationwide Pushback: 12 States in Focus
The Sai Baba idol controversy, which originated in Varanasi, is now spreading nationwide. The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, one of India’s oldest Hindu organizations, is leading the charge to remove Sai Baba idols from temples across 12 states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Shishir Chaturvedi, a senior leader of the Hindu Mahasabha, emphasized that this movement is not against Sai devotees but about preserving the sanctity of Hindu temples. “Sai cannot be worshipped alongside our gods and goddesses. If people want to worship him, they should build separate temples for him,” Chaturvedi said.
Swami Mahadev, a spokesperson for the organization, took a harsher stance, calling it a “sin” to place Sai Baba, who allegedly ate meat, alongside Hindu deities. He vowed to take the issue to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Political and Religious Tensions Rise
The removal of Sai Baba idols has stirred political and religious debate across India. Maharashtra, where Sai Baba’s shrine in Shirdi attracts millions of devotees every year, is particularly on edge. The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Trust has called for legal action against those responsible, describing the events in Varanasi as deeply hurtful to Sai devotees worldwide. “This is an attack on the faith of millions,” said Goraksh Gadhilkar, Chief Operating Officer of the Trust.
As assembly elections approach in Maharashtra, political parties are weighing in. The BJP’s Maharashtra chief, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, condemned the removal of the idols, calling it an insult to religion. Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat echoed this sentiment, arguing that Sai Baba transcends religion and caste. “This incident mocks the faith of millions,” he said.
Historical Roots of the Controversy
The opposition to Sai Baba in Hindu temples dates back to October 2015, when Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati launched a campaign against his worship. He argued that Sai Baba, a Muslim saint, should not be venerated as a Hindu deity. This sentiment has since been adopted by various Hindu organizations, leading to the current wave of protests and removals.
Mahant Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham has also publicly criticized the worship of Sai Baba, claiming that no saint, including Sai, can be equated with Hindu gods. His comments have further fueled the controversy, resulting in FIRs being filed against him.
A Divisive Debate Ahead
As the movement to remove Sai Baba idols gains momentum, tensions are rising within Hindu communities and beyond. Many see this as a question of religious purity, while others view it as a needless attack on a beloved spiritual figure. The controversy is likely to intensify in the coming months, as Hindu organizations prepare for a nationwide push to remove Sai Baba idols from more temples.
The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Trust, along with millions of devotees, vows to continue the fight, with the case potentially heading to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the political ramifications of this dispute, especially in Maharashtra, cannot be ignored as elections approach.
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