Morena (Madhya Pradesh): Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand, during a brief visit to Morena on Saturday, expressed strong views on topics like cow protection, India as a Hindu nation, and the idea of India being a global leader, on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on his way to the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, he emphasized that India cannot become a ‘Vishwaguru’ (world leader) without first cultivating the qualities of a true leader.
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He remarked, “To be a Guru, one must have the pride and confidence of being a Guru. But today, India lacks this pride. Instead of valuing its own heritage, India constantly looks abroad for inspiration. For example, during the redevelopment of Kashi, a delegation was sent to Kyoto, Japan, to replicate its model. Why can’t Kashi remain Kashi? There was a time when Kyoto sought to replicate Kashi. Back then, we were the leaders. Now, by seeking to be like Kyoto, we have become mere followers.”
Shankaracharya criticized leaders for abandoning India’s rich cultural and historical legacy in favor of foreign ideas, saying this mindset has turned India into a ‘global follower’ rather than a leader.
‘India doesn’t understand Hinduism anymore’
When asked about the concept of India becoming a Hindu nation, he cautioned against the idea. He stated, “Even if India becomes a Hindu nation, it won’t embody Hinduism in its true sense. It will become a land of political agendas where people chant ‘Hindu-Hindu’ without understanding the essence of the religion. Scriptures will be sidelined, religious leaders will face suppression, and chaos will reign in the name of religion.”
He further criticized the rise of “Hindu politics” in the last decade, highlighting that during the same period, cow slaughter and beef exports have increased. He pointed out the modernization of slaughterhouses and questioned whether this aligns with the principles of protecting cows.
‘Third world war looming’
Shankaracharya expressed concern about the current global climate, saying, “Every nation today feels invincible, leading to reckless behavior. This creates tensions and divides the world into opposing camps. Such divisions were the root causes of the first two World Wars, and scholars can already sense the signs of a third one.”
