On Tuesday, four SC religious leaders from Gujarat were appointed as mahamandaleshwars in Ahmedabad.
The religious ceremony was performed by several spiritual leaders, including chairman of All India Akhada Parishad Mahant Ravindrapuri Maharaj, General Secretary of All India Akhada Parishad Mahant Harigiri Maharaj, who is also the guardian of Juna Akhada International.
Shamaldas Guru Mangaldas from Ghoghawadar in Rajkot’s Gondal taluka; Shamaldas Guru Premdas from Rajpara, Shihor in Bhavnagar; Kirandas Mohandas Bapu from Hadanagar in Bhavnagar and Krushnavadan Hariprasad Maharaj from Thangadh in Surendranagar are the four religious leaders who have been elevated as mahamandaleshwars.
“The purpose to hold this event in a grand manner was the recognition and acceptance which we were aiming for the last six months. We realised that a lot of Dalits wanted to come to the mainstream but they were scared and their parents would say that they would not get recognition. So, we decided to hold a grand function where you would not hesitate in identifying yourself as a Dalit or from Scheduled Caste… and the biggest dharma guru will not stop you but honour you,” Rajesh Shukla, chief strategist of national intellectual advisory and main trustee of One More Chance, a non-profit, told The Indian Express.
“This is the first time the All India Akhada Parishad is holding this kind of event. One advantage of organising this in a city like Ahmedabad is the posts of mahamandaleshwar — which is the highest after that of Shankaracharyas — is a value addition to the society. The purpose won’t be met if this was organised in Haridwar or any other place,” Shukla added.
He further said that the process involved writing letters to regional heads of all temples and all Akhada Parishads in Gujarat and 400 names were received. “Then we formed a committee where these names were scrutinised on finances, character, operations parameters and out of 400, six were selected. These were under observation for four months. On February 22, four were selected who were then trained,” he said.
