September 2021
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Svami Nischalananda Sarasvatiji Maharaj, The Shankaracharya of Puri, gave his view on the situation in Kashi (while the work of towards the inauguration of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor Kashi Vishwanath corridor was in progress).
Maharajaji said that the presence of an airport in Kashi is a sign of development. However, seeing the current state of Kashi, he said that the elements in whose hands the pure tirtha has slipped into, are proving to be extremely fatal for the sanatana vedic arya principles and dharma.
Where there are airports, hotels, etc, shall also sprout up. There is full support to development but in the name of development, the spirit of the tirtha must not get lost.
From the womb of development terrorism must not take birth and the region and the nation must not reach a state of destruction. We need to be vigilant on this matter, he warned us and stated that Kashi is an example of this situation.
Kashi has been created in such a way, that if compelled due to circumstances, even if one Hindu needs to escape from Kashi, he will not be able to do so alive. This indication has been given as the responsibility of being one holding the position of an Acharya, having the strength that comes from sannyasa. While Maharajaji expresses that all are his own, one must be able to take best advantage of the situation.
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In the year 2018 Maharajaji commented on the procedures followed in the Kashi Vishvanath Mandir, as explained below.
He said that these days, in the functioning of the mandirs like the Kashi Vishvanath , the systems prescribed by the governments are followed rather than the system of the shastras. The government enforces what is against our shastras. When anyone can enter the mandir, then, even those brahmins who are not performing worship as prescribed by shastras, may enter the mandir. However, they must refrain from touching the Shivalinga, etc, while doing puja.
Read about Kashi – The Sacred Land of Moksha