RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Faces Backlash from Hindu Religious Leaders Over Temple-Mosque Remarks

In a development that has caused quite a stir within the Hindu community, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat‘s recent comments cautioning against the use of temple-mosque disputes to foster communal tensions have come under heavy criticism from several prominent Hindu religious leaders. The controversy has underscored growing friction between the RSS and spiritual authorities over the handling of sensitive religious matters.

The Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, the country’s most important body of Hindu seers, gave a sharp rebuke to Bhagwat’s comments, stating that religious matters are in the hands of spiritual leaders and not the RSS. The general secretary of the AKSS, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, made it clear that religious matters were to be decided by “dharmacharyas” and accepted by organizations like the RSS and VHP.

“When it comes to religion, it is the religious gurus who should decide, and their decisions will be accepted by the Sangh and the VHP,” Saraswati stated. He further noted that despite Bhagwat’s earlier appeals to refrain from raising temple-mosque disputes, the identification of 56 new sites with ancient temple structures continues, underscoring the enduring significance of such issues.

‘Mohan Bhagwat Does Not Lead Hinduism’

Spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya also objected to Bhagwat’s assertions, saying that Bhagwat can lead an organization but cannot present Hinduism. “He can lead an organization but does not lead Hinduism. It is saints and seers who are responsible for Hinduism,” he declared.

Dismissing Bhagwat’s comments as personal opinions, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya asserted the commitment to restore ancient Hindu temples at every place where their presence is confirmed. “This is a part of cultural and religious preservation,” he said, and further that the recent trends in temple-mosque controversy have been good for Hindus. He vowed to follow up restoration work through the legal route, public movement, and democratic mechanism.

The critical remarks of Bhagwat in which he has alerted everyone not to use disputes relating to the temples and mosques for coming forward have seen visible opposition against him in the saffron ecosystem. Observers see this as evidence of a larger schism concerning RSS’ religious work. Though the primary thrust of RSS has traditionally remained on cultural and social mobilization, the above utterances seem to question religious leaders’ authority about their faith.

The controversy arises against the backdrop of ongoing legal petitions by Hindu groups seeking the demolition of mosques allegedly built over ancient temple sites. Among these is the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, which has been a focal point of such disputes.

Spiritual leaders have claimed that they would not be deterred from restoring temple sites by the attempts of RSS chief to trivialize the matter. “Mohan Bhagwat is not our disciplinarian; we are,” declared Rambhadracharya in asserting the autonomy of spiritual leaders to guide the Hindu community.

This rare instance of open opposition to the RSS chief’s views highlights a complex dynamic within the Hindu religious and socio-political framework. As debates continue over the preservation of India’s cultural and religious heritage, friction between spiritual leaders and the RSS will be likely to shape future discourse on the role of religion in public life.