Shankaracharya slams Dhirendra Shastri over remarks on Mahakumbh stampede victims

New Delhi: Following the tragic stampede at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Bageshwar Dham’s presiding officer, Dhirendra Shastri, sparked controversy with his remarks on salvation for the deceased.

On Friday (January 31, 2025), Shastri stated that those who died in the incident had attained salvation, adding that death is inevitable and passing away on the banks of the Ganges ensures liberation.

However, facing backlash, he later clarified on Saturday, claiming that his statement had been misinterpreted.

His comments drew sharp criticism from the Sant Samaj, with Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati issuing a strong rebuttal. “If he believes in salvation so much, he should be ready to attain it himself,” the Shankaracharya said, adding that it was insensitive to dismiss the deaths of children, women, and elderly people as mere inevitabilities.

The stampede, which resulted in multiple fatalities, has raised concerns over crowd management at Mahakumbh, with religious leaders now divided over the remarks made in its aftermath.