<p>The controversy over Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth, Swami Swaroopananad Sarswati questioning the worship of Shirdi Sai Baba appears set to escalate further with the ‘Akharas’ (organisations of sects of Hindu religion) taking a strong exception to criticism of the seer by the disciples of Sai Baba.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The ‘Akharas’, which control a large number of ashrams and places of worship across the country, were contemplating removal of Sai Baba idols from different temples in the country.<br /><br />The ‘Akharas’ also plan to take up the matter with religious leaders and Hindu seers from different parts of the country.<br /><br />“The way Sai Baba’s disciples are protesting Shankaracharya is unacceptable. We cannot allow humiliation of such a respected religious figure,” said an office-bearer of an ‘Akhara’ in Allahabad.<br /><br />“We will launch a nationwide movement to sensitise the Hindus on the issue. Shankaracharya is a revered saint. Whatever he says is in accordance with the religious scriptures and traditions,” he added.<br /><br />Sources in the Akharas said a meeting of senior seers and religious heads might be convened in the days to come to discuss the matter and chalk out the further strategy.<br /><br />The reports said disciples of Sai Baba have held demonstrations in different parts of the country to protest the Shankaracharya’s remark on Sai Baba. <br /><br />Cases have also been filed in the courts against Shankaracharya. <br /><br />A large number of disciples of Sai Baba had on Sunday taken en-mass bath in the river Ganga at Govind Ghat at Hardwar. Many of them also held the idol of Sai Baba. <br />“The Ganga belongs to everyone,” they said. <br /><br />The Bharat Sadhu Samaj, an apex body of the saints in the country, has also defended Shankaracharya on the issue. <br /><br />The Shankaracharya had recently said Sai Baba was not a god and that the Hindus should not worship him.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The controversy over Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth, Swami Swaroopananad Sarswati questioning the worship of Shirdi Sai Baba appears set to escalate further with the ‘Akharas’ (organisations of sects of Hindu religion) taking a strong exception to criticism of the seer by the disciples of Sai Baba.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The ‘Akharas’, which control a large number of ashrams and places of worship across the country, were contemplating removal of Sai Baba idols from different temples in the country.<br /><br />The ‘Akharas’ also plan to take up the matter with religious leaders and Hindu seers from different parts of the country.<br /><br />“The way Sai Baba’s disciples are protesting Shankaracharya is unacceptable. We cannot allow humiliation of such a respected religious figure,” said an office-bearer of an ‘Akhara’ in Allahabad.<br /><br />“We will launch a nationwide movement to sensitise the Hindus on the issue. Shankaracharya is a revered saint. Whatever he says is in accordance with the religious scriptures and traditions,” he added.<br /><br />Sources in the Akharas said a meeting of senior seers and religious heads might be convened in the days to come to discuss the matter and chalk out the further strategy.<br /><br />The reports said disciples of Sai Baba have held demonstrations in different parts of the country to protest the Shankaracharya’s remark on Sai Baba. <br /><br />Cases have also been filed in the courts against Shankaracharya. <br /><br />A large number of disciples of Sai Baba had on Sunday taken en-mass bath in the river Ganga at Govind Ghat at Hardwar. Many of them also held the idol of Sai Baba. <br />“The Ganga belongs to everyone,” they said. <br /><br />The Bharat Sadhu Samaj, an apex body of the saints in the country, has also defended Shankaracharya on the issue. <br /><br />The Shankaracharya had recently said Sai Baba was not a god and that the Hindus should not worship him.<br /><br /></p>