Swami Avimukteshwarananda, associated with the Joshimath and Dwarka Sharada Peetham, has called out the wanton destruction of the sacred heritage sites at Varanasi (Kashi), the holiest of holy cities for Hindus, by authorities.
Taking to social media, Swami Avimukteshwarananda said that several temples have been demolished in Varanasi and their murtis were thrown away carelessly into the gutter.
He added that the green and flourishing Peepal tree, revered by millions of Hindus, was brazenly cut down. Several ancient wells were filled and covered up as well.
The statue of Mandana Mishra, a renowned Hindu scholar and philosopher, and a disciple of Adi Shankara, was destroyed.
The murtis of the deities housed in the office precincts of the Vishwanath Temple have disappeared, he alleged. Even the murti of Avimukteshwar Mahadev, one among the fourteen prominent Shiva temples in the city of Kashi, has disappeared, he said.
And now, the ‘Akshay Vat’ – a reference to the Peepal tree – has been razed to the ground, he said, expressing his disappointment and grief at the events. There was also a Hanuman shrine at the foot of the tree, which has also been demolished.
Temples and other sacred sites, that have been situated in the city for thousands of years, are all being demolished in the name of development and to promote religious tourism.
“In the name of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the soul of Kashi is constantly being attacked for the past few years”, Swami Avimukteshwarananda said.
काशी विश्वनाथ कारीडोर के नाम पर काशी की आत्मा का हनन विगत कुछ वर्षों से निरन्तर हो रहा है।https://t.co/sojjDb7a9I@narendramodi @myogiadityanath @dmvaranasi2016 @PTI_News @ANI @ndtvindia pic.twitter.com/WJn0NYEGOx
— Swaamishreeh स्वामिश्रीः 1008 (@swaamishreeh108) April 28, 2021
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