Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati recently said that collecting money for darshan in temples is a matter of kalank (disgrace).

“It is a conspiracy to defame Hindu Dharma. Which religion in the world charges money for seeing their deities? We oppose it,” he further said while speaking to Dainik Bhaskar.

“Those who go to listen to Katha (religious tales), go with Dharmic and spiritual spirits. Yes, there are many people doing politics and business in the matter of religion, that is a view, but it is not so in the mainstream. Even today, Dharmic events are being held in the mainstream. After independence, the majority Hindus have been deprived of Dharmic (religious) education by inserting Article 30 in the Constitution. If we don’t organise this, then from where will our children get Dharmic (religious) education?” Shankaracharya said when asked whether doing Katha (religious tales) has become a business today.