Muslims will turn Ayodhya to 2nd Mecca : Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati

Udupi (Karnataka) – Puri Govardhan Mutt’s Swami Shankaracharya Nishchalanand Saraswati Maharaj recently said the Supreme Court verdict allowing five acres of land to Muslims would create a big spiritual conflict in the Holy land of Ayodhya.

“If five acres of land is given to Muslims in Ayodhya, they will make the Holy land a second Mecca and the very essence of Ayodhya being spiritual capital (for Prabhu Ram’s birthplace) of the world will be affected”, said the Shankaracharya at a Press meet here.

Claiming that Shankaracharya is the highest institution in the matters of Hindus’ spiritual matters, he said, “The Orissa High Court and the Supreme Court have already said they will not interfere with the Shankaracharya’s spiritual decision. With the verdict, the Central Government got a clue of providing land to Muslims, resolving the issue and to take the credit without caring for the consequence. It is like firing the gun from someone else’s shoulder”.

“Ayodhya comes under the spiritual territory of the Govardhan Mutt Shankaracharya. Once former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee requested me to sign a document approving construction of a Ram Mandir and a mosque at Ayodhya. However, I did not favour this. Then, he refrained from his own proposal. Now, this Government wants to take credit only”, said the Shankaracharya.

To a question that Sunni Waqf Board is claiming five acres of land is not of any value, Saraswati said, “Let them first decide to file a review petition. Further comments will be given”.

Regarding the constitution of a Trust by the Central Government for construction of a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, he said nobody has contacted him.