"Alternative for Kedarnath Dham is not acceptable," says Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 16 : On the recent controversy revolving around the construction of Kedarnath temple in Delhi, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said that Mandir is not an economic center, adding that 'alternative' for Kedarnath Dham is not acceptable.
He condemned Delhi's Trust of Kedarnath Dham's provisions of refunding and transferring memberships and said the temple is not a centre of economic activities but rather a centre for meditation.
Speaking to the media about the recent controversy on the construction of Kedarnath Temple in Delhi, he asserted, "How did we know that Kashi Vishwanath is in Varanasi? Because it is mentioned in the 'Shastras'. Similarly, it is mentioned in Shastras that Kedar will be in the Himalayas. The problem is that the advertisement of Kedarnath Trust of Delhi has written "Kedarnath Shifting" and Uttarakhand's CM Dhami also participated in the 'Bhumi-Pujan' event, which means it is being advertised as an 'alternative' for Kedarnath Dham, which is not acceptable, as an alternative for Kedarnath Dham is only Kedarnath Dham itself."
Highlighting the trust's provisions, he said, "The problem is with the management of trust also, as they have a provision of refunding and transferring membership, which is not acceptable in our culture and is a sin. Mandir is not an economic center, it's a center for meditation. You cannot shift Kedarnath Dham. This is not acceptable."
On the alleged gold scam of Kedarnath, Shankaracharya said, "Earlier, it was said that 320 kgs of gold has been missing, then it decreased to 228, then it became 36, 32 and 27 simultaneously. Whether the number is 320, 228, 36, 32, or 27, the problem is where did it go? How can gold turn into brass? Demands for investigation have been raised to Commissioner, but he didn't investigate the case properly. What are the reasons behind the missing gold from the temple? This is a huge scam."
Earlier on Monday, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, Swami Avimukteshwaranand on, strongly opposed the plans to build the Kedarnath temple in Delhi saying that 12 Jyotirlingas have been mentioned in the Shiv Mahapuran with name and location, adding that when the address for Kedarnath is in the Himalayas, how can it be in Delhi?
"There cannot be a symbolic Kedarnath... 12 Jyotirlingas have been mentioned in the Shiv Puran, with name and location... When the address for Kedarnath is in the Himalayas, how can it be in Delhi?... There are political reasons behind this... Political people are entering our religious places... There is a gold scam in Kedarnath, why is that issue not raised? After doing a scam there, now Kedarnath will be built in Delhi? And then there will be another scam. 228kgs of gold is missing from Kedarnath... No inquiry has started. Who is responsible for this?... Now they are saying they will build a Kedarnath in Delhi, this cannot happen," he said.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand alleged that 228 kg of gold was missing from Kedarnath. No inquiry has started. He questioned, "Who is responsible for this?"
"There is a gold scam in Kedarnath, why is that issue not raised? After doing a scam there, now Kedarnath will be built in Delhi? And then there will be another scam. 228 kg of gold is missing from Kedarnath... No inquiry has started. Who is responsible for this?... Now they are saying they will build a Kedarnath in Delhi, this cannot happen," he said.
The Kedarnath temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are the most sacred Shiva shrines in India. It is located at an altitude of 3,584 meters above sea level in Uttarakhand. The temple was originally built in the 8th century AD by Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya and stands adjacent to the site of an even earlier temple built by the Pandavas.