The recent removal of Sai Baba idols from two prominent temples in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has ignited significant controversy. The Bada Ganesh Temple and Purushottam Temple have been at the center of this debate, as Hindu nationalist groups have expressed opposition to the presence of Sai Baba statues, claiming they are incompatible with temples dedicated to Hindu deities. This situation has led to discussions about religious practices and Sai Baba’s role within Hindu worship.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN VARANASI
The statue of Sai Baba at the Bada Ganesh Temple was taken down as part of a campaign initiated by the Sanatan Rakshak Dal. Members of this group removed the statue on Sunday night, arguing that worshipping Sai Baba is inappropriate in a city revered for its adherence to Sanatan Dharma. Ajay Sharma, president of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal, stated that there is no justification for Sai Baba’s presence in Kashi’s temples.
On Monday, members of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal gathered at the Bada Ganesh Temple in Lohatia, a historical site that attracts thousands of devotees daily. During the assembly, they wrapped the five-foot Sai statue in cloth and removed it from the temple grounds, placing it outside the premises.
SUPREME COURT’S STANCE ON SAI IDOL PLACEMENT
The controversy surrounding Sai Baba’s placement in temples is not new. In 2014, the Supreme Court opted not to intervene in a dispute related to comments made by the Shankaracharya of Dwarkapeeth about the worship of Sai Baba. This incident led to derogatory remarks about the saint and the removal of his idols from various temples. The court was addressing a petition from the Saidham Charitable Trust, which oversees several temples in Maharashtra, including a Sai Baba temple.
Earlier this year, in June, the Madras High Court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department regarding a petition seeking the removal of Sai Baba idols from government-run Hindu temples. The petition, filed by D. Suresh Babu, a resident of Coimbatore, argued that previous court rulings indicate that Sai Baba’s followers come from diverse faiths, not exclusively Hinduism.
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