The controversial Jyotish and Dwarka peedadheeshwar Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati has triggered a new controversy, saying that both Shani (Saturn) and Shirdi Sai Baba are not Gods and the people are bringing calamities on themselves by worshiping them as gods. Citing the case of Maharashtra now wilting under famine-like situation that has resulted from drought, the seer said this was because of the people there worshipping these two as gods.
“If the women worship ‘Shani Greh’ they invite cases of harassment and rape,” he said, adding that deifying such deities to divinity stands against the spirit of the ancient scriptures. The grehas (planets and constellations) are to be pacified and should never be worshipped, said Swaroopanand. “Women are feeling elated on getting the right to worship in Shani temple. This is queer and dangerous too. Assaults on women would increase by this unholy act of worship,” he warned.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Swaroopanand said, “Shirdi is a place where lies the grave of Sai Baba. The people there are dying now as drought is wreaking havoc.” Daring the saint, he said it is time he should show his mystical power by conjuring up rains to relieve the dying people.
Spewing more fire, the seer said the Hindu Devtas and scriptures were under siege with the people installing idols of Sai Baba in the temples. “They are singing glory of Sai Baba too, insulting our Devtas. Things are such that Ganesha and Rama are looking like dwarfs before the towering idols of Sai Baba. I am convinced that once this anomaly is removed and the rule of the scriptures is restored things would be better for Maharashtra,” he said.
He defended himself, invoking a Sanskrit shloka: “Apujya yatra pujyante, pooj pujyet vritikramah” meaning where the unworthy are worshipped, there doom falls. “Three types of Anarth–calamities-Durbhiksh, akal mrityu (untimely death) and bhay(fears) arise from these unholy acts,” he said.