The Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth, Swami Madhavashram has said that perversion of ancient Sanatan Hindu traditions has also played a role in the destruction wreaked by heavy rains in Kedarnath and other Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand.
He has strongly criticised growing political interference in the temple committees of these four shrines and called for religious scholars and other relevant persons to be included in these temple committees in stead of politically connected persons. The Shankaracharya has stressed that pilgrimage should not be perverted into tourism.
Stating that perversion of spiritual traditions led to the disaster, the Shankaracharya said that the Char Dham shrines have their own hallowed spiritual traditions which were aimed at the welfare of people and society at large. The deaths of multitudes in the calamity shook the nation and the religious fraternity which has made it more important to consider the traditions ignored at present.
He stressed on the need for ensuring the rights of traditional rights holders while adding that this should not be used as an excuse to mar tradition. “Dharmshalas should be built at pilgrimage centres in stead of hotels made on the western model because those undertaking pilgrimage should have renunciation, surrender and respect for traditions,” he said while adding that cremation rights should be conducted according to Vedic traditions for those who died in Kedarnath.
Madhavashram strongly criticised political interference in the Badri Kedar Temple Committee and the temple committees of other Char Dham shrines while stressing on the need for including religious adepts and spiritual scholars in the temple committees in stead of politicians. “The influence of politics is exerting a detrimental effect on the hallowed traditions and decorum of important shrines and pilgrimage centres,” said the Shankaracharya.
He said that on the lines of steps taken in Himachal Pradesh, it is vital to undertake demarcation of the Char Dham shrines located in wildlife sanctuaries. He also called for establishing an effective system for facilitating a transparent system of mules and palanquins in the Char Dhams. Stating that consumption of liquor and meat around such hallowed shrines was desecrating the areas, he called for a complete ban on meat and alcohol at these pilgrimage centres.
Since traditionally, the deities are worshipped for only six months in a year by humans in the Char Dham shrines, no one should be allowed to remain here during the period when the shrines are closed to people. He also stressed on facilitating the clean up and rebuilding of the Kedarnath shrine through voluntary work by locals and devotees.