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Puri tense as rival claimant to shankaracharya title arrives

M I Khan in Puri

Tension gripped the temple town of Puri following the arrival of Adhokshjananda Tirtha who claims to be the real shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth, on Saturday.

Adhokshjananda Tirtha hails from Varanasi (Benaras) and claims to be a disciple and the successor of Swami Niranjandev Devatirtha, the previous shankaracharya of the Puri Math. He has been claiming to be the real successor of Swami Niranjandev for several years now, sources said.

Adhokshjananda said he was visiting Puri to observe the two-month-long Sravan Brata [a Hindu ritual]. "I am the real shankaracharya and to get the title I am going to initiate legal action within a day or two against Nischalananda," he told reporters.

But Swami Gopalananda, deputy of the present shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, told rediff.com that Adhokshjananda had come to create disturbances in the town. "We have already lodged a FIR and requested the district administration not to allow him to stay in town," he said.

Six months ago, when Adhokshjananda and his supporters visited Puri, the police advised them to leave the town. Although they had registered a case under section 419 of the Indian Penal Code against him, Adhokshjananda had not been arrested.

This time, though Adhokshjananda has been allowed to stay in the town, the administration has restricted his movements and imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 in the town. Tight security arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward incident.

Members of the Govardhan Peeth have filed a first information report against Adhokshjananda at the Sea Beach police station, police sources said.

The Govardhan Math is one of the four holy shrines established by Adi Shankaracharya. Swami Niranjandev Devatirtha, the previous shankaracharya, had bestowed the title on Swami Nischalanand Saraswati, Swami Gopalananda said. The Orissa government as well as the Government of India recognises Swami Nischalanand as the shankaracharya of Puri, he said.

While Nischalanand is said to be supported by Gajapati of Puri as well as Vishwa Hindu Parishad vice-president Giriraj Kishore, Adhokshjananda is said to be supported by some senior politicians of the Congress party.

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