Sai Baba idols removed from 14 Varanasi temples: Some immersed in Ganga, others covered
Idols of Sai Baba have been removed from 14 temples in Varanasi. Some idols were immersed in the Ganges, while others were taken to Sai Baba temples. The Sanatan Rakshak Dal has recently compiled a list of 100 more temples.
The party’s state president says that Sanatan temples should only house Sanatan deities. At the same time, the Samajwadi Party remarked that these actions are disturbing the peace.
Sai Baba Idols Immersed in Ganga
Three days ago, a Sai Baba idol was removed from the prominent Bada Ganesh temple in the city and immersed in the Ganges. The idol from Purushottam Temple was also removed. Additionally, many idols in other temples have been wrapped in white cloth.
This campaign was initially started by Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati. Now, the Sanatan Rakshak Dal is carrying forward this campaign.
Idol Removed from Bada Ganesh Temple
Bhaskar spoke to elders living near the Bada Ganesh temple. They said, “Today we saw that the Sai Baba idol was removed from here. If there was an objection to the idol in a Sanatan temple, it should not have been installed in the first place. If it was installed, it should have been removed respectfully.”
“It’s not appropriate to throw the pieces like this in the streets. Though the pieces are not of the idol but of the throne,” another elder added. “It is wrong to remove idols after they have been installed.”
On Sunday, a large number of members of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal arrived at the Bada Ganesh Temple in Lohatia. This is a historical temple where thousands of devotees gather daily.
A 5-foot-tall Sai Baba idol had also been installed in the temple premises. The members of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal took the idol from here, wrapped it in cloth, and immersed it in the Ganges.
Opposition to the Removal of Idols – Read First
SP MLC Remarks: How Long Will We Keep Debating Temples and Mosques?
Graduate MLC and SP leader Ashutosh Sinha said, “Banaras is a center of faith. Nowadays, we are hearing all sorts of things. Earlier, continuous worship was taking place. I do not comment on any religion or god. I don’t understand why this is necessary. Today, the main issues in Banaras are related to sewage and water. There is no discussion on the pollution of the Ganges. In the name of development, over 50 temples were demolished here. No discussion was held on that. How long will we keep debating temples, mosques, gods, and Sai Baba? We should talk about education, Banaras’ progress, and employment.”
Priest’s Statement: Worship Continued Due to Lack of Knowledge
Mahant Ramamu Guru of Bada Ganesh Temple said, “Sai Baba was being worshipped due to a lack of knowledge. According to the scriptures, his worship is prohibited. After receiving the information, the idol was voluntarily removed.” Shankar Puri, the Mahant of Annapurna Temple, stated, “There is no mention of Sai Baba’s worship in the scriptures, and that is why the installed idols are now being removed from temples.
