Sai Baba Idol Row: In a controversial move, the Sanatan Rakshak Dal has removed statues of Sai Baba from 14 temples in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The organizations state president, Ajay Sharma, has been taken into custody by the police in connection with the campaign. Preparations are also underway to remove more Sai Baba idols in Lucknow, as the group claims that the worship of Sai Baba is not supported by Hindu scriptures.Long-standing controversy on Sai Baba worshipThe issue of Sai Babas place in Hindu worship has been a contentious one for years. It was first raised by prominent religious figures like Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati, and more recently, by Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham Sarkar. Both have voiced strong opposition to the deification and worship of Sai Baba, arguing that such practices are not aligned with Hindu traditions.Brahmin organization takes action in Varanasi, video surfacesA Brahmin organization has now taken matters into its own hands, launching a movement to remove Sai Baba idols from temples in Varanasi. The first idol was removed from the renowned Bada Ganesh temple, followed by another at the Purushottam temple in the Godaulia area. According to the Sanatan Rakshak Dal, this is just the beginning, with many more temples across Kashi expected to follow suit.उत्तर प्रदेश : वाराणसी में सनातन रक्षक दल ने 14 मंदिरों से साईं बाबा की मूर्तियां हटाईं। पुलिस ने संगठन के प्रदेश अध्यक्ष अजय शर्मा को कस्टडी में लिया। लखनऊ में भी मूर्तियां हटाने की तैयारी है। ये अभियान चलाने वालों का कहना है कि शास्त्रों में साईं पूजा का वर्णन नहीं मिलता। pic.twitter.com/uNmnVH7xp1— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) October 3, 2024Sai Baba idols removed from 14 temples so farAjay Sharma, a representative of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal, confirmed that Sai Baba idols have been removed from about 14 temples in the city. He explained that the organization believes people have been worshipping Sai Baba out of ignorance, and they see the removal of the idols as a step towards preserving traditional Hindu values.We are not against Sai Baba as a person, Sharma said. But according to our scriptures, the installation of idols of deceased humans in temples is not allowed. We believe that only the five deities—Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, and Ganapati—should be worshipped in Hindu temples.The removal of Sai Baba idols has sparked a debate within the Hindu community, particularly regarding the role of modern figures in traditional worship. While many devotees continue to revere Sai Baba as a spiritual guide, the actions of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal have reignited questions about scriptural adherence and the future of worship practices in temples across India.
