What is the 228 kg gold scam?
The gold scam that Shankaracharya has mentioned came to light in June 2023. At that time, Santosh Trivedi, the chief priest of Kedarnath Dham, had alleged that gold worth Rs 125 crore was installed on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
This gold was installed on the walls of the temple in 2005. Some donors donated this gold. But Santosh Trivedi claimed that the gold has now turned into brass. He accused the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) of irregularities. However, the temple committee rejected the allegations and called it a conspiracy to defame the management.
On this issue, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarananda says that the government never investigated it.
Why is there opposition to the construction of Kedarnath temple in Delhi?
Kedarnath temple is being built in Burari, the capital of Delhi. This will be a temple similar to the Kedarnath temple located in Rudraprayag. Its Bhoomi Pujan was done a few days ago. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Union Minister Ajay Tamta, Mahamandaleshwar Kailashanand Giriji Maharaj and Kedarnath Dham Trust President Surendra Rautela were also present in this program.
There is strong opposition in Uttarakhand also against this temple which is going to be built in Delhi. Sadhus, saints and priests have started a movement against it. They say that building a temple in the name of Kedarnath Dham in Delhi is an insult to the sanctity of Kedarnath Dham situated in the lap of the Himalayas.
Also, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand has strongly opposed this. He says that the iconic Kedarnath temple cannot be built. He said that the names of 12 Jyotirlingas are mentioned in Shiv Puran and wherever their names are mentioned, their address is also mentioned there. For example- Saurashtra Somnatham. First Saurashtra means Pat and then Somnath. Similarly, Kedaram Himavat Paag means Kedar is behind the Himalayas. If Kedar is in the Himalayas, then how will you bring it to Delhi and keep it there.
Shankaracharya said that when it is clearly stated in Shiv Puran that it is located here, then why do you want to change its location? Why do you want to mislead the public? God has thousands of names, worship him by any name. But Kedarnath Dham will be built in Delhi, this is an unauthorized effort and this should not happen.
What does the government say?
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present at the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the temple being built on the lines of Kedarnath Dham in Delhi. In such a situation, politics has also intensified on this. However, Ajayendra Ajay, President of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, clarified that the state government has nothing to do with it. He said that the Uttarakhand government has nothing to do with the construction of the temple in Delhi. This work is being done by an organization called Kedarnath Trust.
Ajay claimed that no financial help was given by the state government. He said that the Chief Minister attended the foundation stone laying ceremony at the request of some saints as it was a religious occasion.
What does Kedarnath Trust have to say?
Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan chief Swami Darshan Bharti said that misusing the name of Baba Kedar is a sin. He said that I appeal to all Sanatanis to foil this conspiracy. At the same time, due to this entire controversy, the trust has now agreed to change the name of the temple. Shri Kedarnath Dham Delhi Trust chief Surendra Rautla said that the temple is not being built in Delhi.
Surendra Rautla said that some people had objections that this should not be Kedarnath Dham, this should not be Kedarnath Temple. If any devotee, priest or society has any objection or pain with our name, then we will definitely change its name.
He said that the committee has discussed about changing the name of the temple and the process of changing the name has started. He also said that the Uttarakhand government has nothing to do with all this.