Prove You Are Not A Pseduo-Hindu, Ban Cow Slaughter: Avimukteshwaranand to Yogi Adityanath.

Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Ups Ante, Asks Yogi Adityanath to Prove his ‘Hindu sympathy’, Challenges UP CM on Cow Slaughter and Beef Export Ban.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Varanasi | Jan 30, 2026:: The controversy surrounding Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and the Uttar Pradesh government has intensified, with the seer directly challenging Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to demonstrate his commitment as a “Hindu sympathiser” by taking concrete steps to ban cow slaughter and stop beef exports from the state. 

Speaking to reporters in Shri Vidya Math of Varanasi on Friday, Swami Avimukteshwaranand demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government declare the cow as ‘Rajya Mata’ and impose an immediate ban on the export of cow meat. He asserted that such measures would serve as tangible proof of the chief minister’s commitment to Hindu values.

“Our credentials were asked for, and we submitted them. Now the government must give proof of being a Hindu sympathiser. The first step of being a Hindu is love for cows. Declare the cow as ‘Rashtra Mata’ and stop the export of cow meat from Uttar Pradesh,” the Shankaracharya said.

The revered seer of Jyotirmath believes that all these political and administrative wrongdoings—whether during the Magh Mela episode or otherwise—are a consequence of his firm stand on banning cow slaughter nationwide after declaring the cow as ‘Rashtra Mata’ (Mother of the Nation). He also said that Hindus will not tolerate such political vendetta against the Sanatan faith.

The standoff between the Shankaracharya and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has reached a new height, as Swami Avimukteshwaranand issued a 40-day ultimatum to Yogi Adityanath to ban cow slaughter in Uttar Pradesh and stop beef exports from the state. Failing this, the Shankaracharya said he may issue a verdict declaring the UP Chief Minister a ‘Nakli Hindu’ (false Hindu). The Jyotirmath Shankaracharya maintains that cow protection is the foremost criterion for being a true Sanatan Hindu.

Magh Mela Incident and Protest

The seer’s remarks come in the backdrop of an ongoing row stemming from an incident at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj earlier this month, where Swami Avimukteshwaranand was allegedly prevented from taking a holy dip at the Sangam.

The controversy dates back to January 18, when the Shankaracharya was travelling in a palanquin to the Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya. According to officials, police and administrative personnel asked him to dismount and proceed on foot due to heavy crowd pressure. The Mela administration later alleged that his supporters broke a barricade on a pontoon bridge, complicating crowd management.

Following the incident, Swami Avimukteshwaranand began an 11-day sit-in protest outside the Shankaracharya camp at the Magh Mela, demanding a formal apology from the administration and a dignified escort for the ritual bath. He announced that he would not take a dip until the authorities acknowledged what he described as misbehaviour toward him and his followers.

“When I sat there for 11 days, no official asked me to take a dip. Now it is too late. I left the Magh Mela last Wednesday with a heavy heart. I will go next year and take a respectful bath,” he said.

Administrative Notice and Title Dispute

Amid the escalating row, the Magh Mela administration issued a notice to Swami Avimukteshwaranand seeking an explanation regarding his use of the title Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, citing a civil appeal related to the matter that is pending before the Supreme Court.

The seer strongly objected to the notice, questioning the administration’s selective approach and asking how camps of two Shankaracharyas from Puri were allowed to function simultaneously at the same religious congregation.

Saint Society Divided Over Shankaracharya Row

The controversy has also exposed a sharp divide within the saint and seer community, particularly over what some describe as an assault on the institution of the Shankaracharya, alleged defamation of Hindu rituals, and the dignity traditionally accorded to the position of a Shankaracharya.

A section of saints and seers has come out in strong support of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, asserting that the incident at the Sangam amounted to an insult not merely to an individual but to the centuries-old Shankaracharya tradition. These saints argue that denying a Shankaracharya a respectful ritual bath during a major Hindu congregation undermines established religious customs and sets a troubling precedent for the treatment of Hindu spiritual authorities.

However, another group of saints and religious leaders has extended support to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Uttar Pradesh government, maintaining that the administration acted in accordance with crowd management protocols during the Magh Mela. This section has dismissed allegations of deliberate insult and has accused certain quarters of politicising the issue. Critics within this group allege that the controversy is being amplified for political reasons, while supporters of Swami Avimukteshwaranand counter that such positions appear to be influenced by BJP–RSS ideological alignment rather than concerns for religious propriety.

The visible split within the saint society has added a new dimension to the standoff, transforming it from an administrative dispute into a broader debate over religious authority, political influence on spiritual institutions, and the role of the state in matters of faith.

Political and Bureaucratic Fallout

The controversy has since triggered significant political and administrative reactions within the state.

Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri tendered his resignation, citing concerns over the alleged insult to Swami Avimukteshwaranand and broader social issues arising from the episode.

Separately, Prashant Kumar Singh, a deputy commissioner in the Uttar Pradesh GST department posted in Ayodhya, resigned from service citing moral reasons. In his resignation, he stated that he was deeply hurt by what he termed baseless allegations made by the seer against the chief minister and the prime minister.

Congress Steps In

The Congress party has announced an awareness campaign protesting what it calls the insult of the Shankaracharya. Party leaders accused the Uttar Pradesh administration of insensitivity in handling the matter and demanded that the governor take suo motu cognisance of the incident and initiate appropriate action.

Ongoing Standoff

With religious sentiment, administrative authority, and political reactions now intertwined, the episode has evolved into a wider debate on governance, religious dignity, and policy priorities in Uttar Pradesh. While the state government has maintained that crowd management considerations guided its actions at the Magh Mela, Swami Avimukteshwaranand has made it clear that he expects concrete policy steps—particularly on cow protection—to demonstrate the government’s alignment with Hindu values.

The issue continues to unfold amid heightened public and political scrutiny.
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_Inputs from PTI, India TV and Aaj Tak.