The above image is of Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth who is often presented as the Shankaracharya of Puri by politicians and media channels. Further in the article, you shall learn more about his birth as a “Shankaracharya”. For more details and latest updates, also read our Series on the Fake Shankaracharya.
For the information that follows, we give credit to Swasth Kranti Videos for their series on Fake Shankaracharya.
Menace of Fake Shankaracharyas
The sprouting of fake gurus and Shankaracharyas has been a matter of great concern, particularly in the post-independence era.
The issue of the growing menace of imposters and self styled gurus falsely using titles of traditional Hindu lineages has been voiced several times by – Shankaracharya of Puri, the previous Shankaracharya of Dvaraka , and the Akharas.
Sri Adi Shankaracharya established four dharmik centres with the Jagadguru parampara at the dhāmas of Badarinath, Puri, Rameshvaram and Dvaraka. ‘Shankaracharya’ is the title used only for those who head the four dhāmas as per the traditional lineage of Sri Adi Shankaracharya .
It is noteworthy that most of these fake saints and Shankaracharyas have been propped up by various political parties for vested interests.
Birth of a Fake Shankaracharya of Puri
A brief background
The Ramalaya Trust was established by Prime Minister P.V.Narsimha Rao in 1995 to strengthen his political power by building both a mandira and a masjid at the same site in Ayodhya. Several saints (including the Shankaracharyas of other pithas, and several Viashnavacharyas) signed the approval for such proceedings at Ayodhyā with great enthusiasm.
However, in order to maintain the sanctity of the revered pith, and for his respect towards Bharat and the traditional lineage of Acharyas, the Shankaracharya of Puri did not sign and support such a move.
Those who signed the Ramalaya Trust, along with P.M.P.V.Narsimha Rao, tried to pressurise and torture him to support it. After P.V.Narsimha Rao, even Atal Bihari Vajpayee tried to convince the Shankaracharya of Puri to give the permission to make a masjid as well, at the Ram Janmabhumi site.
The Shankaracharya stood firm on his decision and did not succumb to this pressure.
Result of not joining the Ramalaya Trust
During the time of Prime Minister P.V.Narsimha Rao, an imposter took birth.
At midnight, in Prayag, on the occasion of the Kumbha, a student of the Vaishnav saint of Ayodhya was declared the ‘Shankaracharya of Puri‘. He is Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth (image below).
From that time on, there were many attempts to abduct and murder the actual Shankaracharya of Puri – Jagadguru Svami Sri Nischalananda Sarasvatiji Maharaj.
Even Svami Nirvikalpa Sarasvatjiji Maharaj (Secretary to the Shankaracharya of Puri) was attacked. Till todays date, the fake Shankarachraya has been roaming free.
The price to be paid by Jagadguru Puri Shankaracharya for standing up for the truth and protecting Bharat and Hindus, has been a heavy one.
It is a disgrace that all the governments are out to harass our highly revered Shankaracharya using such unscrupulous methods. This is total dishonour and an insult.
Game of Politics
Politicians from all political parties, including Narendra Modi, Raj Nath Singh, Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath, Mohan Bhagawat, etc, meet the Shankaracharya of Puri and even take his blessings. Yet, the fake Śaṅkarācārya is not arrested by them.
Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth was on excellent terms with Azam Khan, since he has been promoting the Swami as a ‘Shankaracharya’. The below quote is from a news report that wrongly presents the Swami as Shankaracharya of Puri.
Read full report (2015) – Puri Shankaracharya Praises Azam…
Harassment by politicians
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Svami Sri Nischalananda Sarasvatiji Maharaj describes a horrific incident that occurred a few years ago at the Prayag Kumbh. The govt sent about 25 policemen with a home guard who started abusing him at the entrance of the door and started announcing awards for bringing the Shankaracharya to him. This was done by Azam Khan when Uttar Pradesh was under the Mulayam Singh Govt.
When current P.M. Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a police officer of a high post (belonging to Odisha and knowing the actual Shankaracharya of Puri) had sought permission from him to arrest the fake Shankaracharya. However, C.M.Modi did not allow that. This has been shared by Shankaracharya of Puri, himself (refer to series on Fake Shankaracharya).
The fake Shankaracharya has been given a lot of police protection and great comfort in the Kumbh at Ujjain. He has made his own “Govardhan Pith” in Mathura (during the tenure of Aditya Nath Yogi as CM). He also has an ashram in Puri.
Dalai Lama meets the Swami
The Dalai Lama too met Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth in the garb of the Shankaracharya of Puri. He stayed silent on the matter despite knowing the real Shankaracharya of Puri. One would wonder what the international response would be if imposters of the Dalai Lama or the Pope were to be honoured publicly.
False representation in events
Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth can also be seen wrongly representing Hinduism and the Purī Pīṭha as ‘the Śaṅkarācārya’ in various programs, as seen in the Brochure of some organisation called World Confluence of Humanity, Power and Spirituality (screenshot below).
The imposter has visited Thailand as “Govardhan Peethadhishwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Shri Adhokshajanand Devtirtha Ji Maharaj” in Decmeber 2023.
Media promotion
The media has been promoting Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth by addressing him with the title of the Shankaracharya of Puri. Below, are just a few examples –
Times of India
Hindustan Times
Opinda
Deccan Herald
The Print
Dainik Bhaskar
DNAIndia
ABP News
Excelsior News
The list can go on.
This comes as no surprise since all political parties seem to be hand-in-glove in promoting fake seers and imposters for their ulterior motives and media is totally compromised.
Activities Reported by Media – including terror links
Since Swami Adhokshjananda Tirth is moving around with the title of Shankaracharya of Puri, his words and actions falsely represent Govardhan Matha (Puri Pith), Jagadguru Shankaracharya Svami Sri Nischalananda Sarasvatiji Maharaj (The Shankaracharya of Puri), Bhagavadpad Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Hindu dharma.
Below are some activities reported by the media.
The Indian Express, Dec 04 2012:
Full Report – Puri Shankaracharya invites Hurriyat, ULFA, Bodo leaders to Kumbh
The Times of India, Feb 19, 2013:
Full Report – Seer Raps RSS for Anti Azam Remark
The Hindu, May 1, 2014:
Full Report – Puri Seer to Campaign Against Modi in Varanasi
Business Standard, May 2, 2014 (in response to the above, the statement below was given by Śaṅkarācārya of Purī):
Full Report – Adhokshjanand is not Puri Shankaracharya: Swami Nischalananda
The Times of India, Oct 26, 2015:
Full Report – Puri Shankaracharya gifts Azam Khan a Cow
Ommcom News, May 16, 2022:
Full Report – Swami Adhokshjanand Devtirath’s Arrival Triggers Tension In Puri
Legal Trouble
In Sept 4, 2000, Orissa High court imposed certain restrictions on the Swami Adhokshajananda Tirthji Maharaj during his stay at Puri.
(i) He is prohibited from going within a radius of 1000 metres’ from Govardhan Pith, the sacred seat of Shankaracharya of Puri.
(ii) He will not hold any public meeting or take out any procession during his stay in Puri.
(iii) During his stay at Puri the writ petitioner will not claim any right or privilege as ŚShankaracharya of Puri so long as his claim is not recognised and/or established in appropriate forum in accordance with law.
(iv) He will not issue any statement containing disparaging remarks or casting reflections on the present recognised Shankaracharya of Puri.
(v) Whenever he wants to move out of his place of stay in Puri outside the prohibited zone, he will inform the local police station in advance.
Read the full court order
On May 16, 2022: Swami Adhokshjanand’s visit to Puri once again created tension. Watch the two links below –
In the above video Sri Matru Prasad Mishra ji who was the National Head of Aditya Vahini and is a very strong karyakarta of the organisation, is questioning the false claim of Swami Adhokshjanand, protesting against his presence in Puri, and asking for his arrest.
Concluding remarks
Such is the sad state of independent Bhārata. Our dharma gurus are openly dishonoured.
We cannot even protect the foundational blocks of our great sanatana civilization and keep the dignity of highly revered Sri Adi Shankarachrayaji who established the four dharmik centres to keep the light of vedic knowledge burning through the Jagadguru parampara.
After learning about the role of politicians disrespecting our revered dharma gurus and participating zealously in the destruction of our traditional systems, one can safely conclude that their interest is far from serving Bharat, leave alone protecting the ancient Hindu civilisation.
In addition to many more such instances, in 2020, Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Puri, gave a public message to the President of India, Prime Minister of India, Home Minister, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister of Odisha and Governor of Odisha on the matter of the fake Shankaracharya. Read the details Here.
It is shameful that no action has been taken but ultimately, truth triumphs.