A controversy has emerged in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, regarding the installation of Sai Baba idols in temples. As of now, idols have been removed from 14 temples, including the notable Bada Ganesh Mandir. This action is reportedly spearheaded by Ajay Sharma of the Sanatan Rakshak Sena.
Hindu organizations claim that Sai Baba was a Muslim and has no affiliation with Sanatan Dharma. While they do not oppose the worship of Sai Baba, they assert that his idols should not be installed in Hindu temples. Ajay Sharma, president of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal, stated, “There are no reasons for Sai Baba’s presence in the temples of Kashi.”
On Monday, members of the Sanatan Rakshak Dal gathered at the historic Bada Ganesh Temple in Lohatia, which attracts thousands of devotees daily. During this assembly, they wrapped a five-foot Sai statue in cloth and removed it from the temple complex, placing it outside the premises.
This issue echoes a previous controversy from 2014, when the Supreme Court declined to intervene in a dispute following remarks made by the Shankaracharya of Dwarkapeeth regarding the worship of Sai Baba. This led to derogatory comments about the saint and the removal of his idol from several temples.
In June of this year, the Madras High Court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department in response to a petition seeking the removal of Sai Baba idols from government-run Hindu temples. The petition, filed by D. Suresh Babu from Coimbatore, argued that past court rulings support the notion that Sai Baba’s followers belong to various faiths, not exclusively Hinduism.
The ongoing developments in Varanasi highlight the complex interplay between religious beliefs and community sentiments in the region.
