Shankaracharya accepts Sant Rampal’s challenge for debate

Metro India News | VARANASI : Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati accepted Sant Rampal’s challenge for a shastrarth, a formal debate based on religious scriptures during a press meet held at Shri Vidya Math in Varanasi. He emphasized the need to present a scripturally grounded response what the press meet organizers described as objectionable statements and alleged scriptural misinterpretations by Rampal concerning Sanatan Dharma, the Vedas, Hindu scriptures, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Goddess Gayatri, Lord Hanuman and other revered Hindu deities.

Legal proceedings reportedly initiated in Lucknow, including the filing of a First Information Report (FIR), petitions submitted before the court and other developments connected with the dispute came up.  Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati appointed Shivansh Narayan Dwivedi as his representative to present a scriptural rebuttal to what the Shankaracharya’s camp described as propaganda against Sanatan Dharma.

Book released

The press conference also saw the release of Rampal Ka Rasatal Gaman, a compilation prepared by Shivansh Narayan Dwivedi. According to the organizers, the book seeks to address various objections raised by Rampal against Sanatan Dharma and Hindu religious scriptures, while examining what they described as misconceptions being spread about the faith.  They maintained that the allegations concerning Sanatan Dharma should be examined and answered through scriptural references, evidence and logical reasoning.

They also appealed to members of the Hindu community, religious leaders, scholars and journalists to listen to the full press conference and circulate its key arguments and questions to a wider audience. The information was provided by Sanjay Pandey, media representative for the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth.