Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand has said to the reporters in Haridwar that the four Shankaracharyas, the most important Hindu religious gurus will not attend the Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya on 22nd January as according to them, it is in violation of the rules of the Sanatan Dharma and the Hindu religion.

Just a few days back, the Shankaracharya of Puri Gowardhanpeeth, Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati had said that he will not attend the event as it is not being done as per the scriptures. Nishchalanand had also said that as per Skanda Purana, bad omens may enter an idol if rituals are not performed properly.

Avimukteshwaranand also said while he is against this, he is not against and does not hold any ill-will against any individual. According to him, installing idols of Lord Ram without completing the construction of the temple was against the Hindu religion and that the ‘Pran Pratishthan’ should’ve been done after the construction as there was no real hurry to inaugurate the temple as it is a bad idea to inaugurate an incomplete temple. "We are not anti-Modi but at the same time we also can’t go against our Dharma Shastra,” said Avimukteshwaranand.

However, the temple trust has responded to the Shankaracharyas and has said that the first floor and the sanctum sanctorum of the temple has been fully constructed, which is of the essence and meanwhile, the rest of the temple will completed within the next two years.

Meanwhile, the Ram Mandir event is being slated to be one of the biggest events that this country has seen with thousands of people, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi (who will inaugurate the temple), celebrities, saints and politicians being invited to the event. Even people from all over the country will be travelling to Ayodhya to celebrate this auspicious day.

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