Mahant Avaidyanath (born Kripal Singh Bisht, 28 May 1921–12 September 2014) was an Indian politician and the head priest (Mahant) of the Gorakhnath Math, a prominent Hindu temple.[1] He was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha and, later Bharatiya Janata Party; and got elected to the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha) from Gorakhpur four times. He played an important role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He is better known as the mentor and guru of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.[1][2]
Mahant Avaidyanath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office December 1989 – March 1998 (3 times) | |
| Preceded by | Madan Pandey |
| Succeeded by | Yogi Adityanath |
| Constituency | Gorakhpur |
| In office January 1970 – March 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Mahant Digvijay Nath |
| Succeeded by | Narsingh Narain Pandey |
| Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |
| In office March 1962 – February 1980 (5 times) | |
| Preceded by | Keshav Pandey |
| Succeeded by | Haridwar Pandey |
| Constituency | Maniram |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kripal Singh Bisht 28 May 1921 Kandi, Garhwal District, United Provinces, British India (present-day Pauri Garhwal district, Uttrakhand) |
| Died | 12 September 2014 (aged 93) Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Occupation | Politician, monk |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Denomination | Shaivism |
| Temple | Gorakhnath Math |
| School | Yoga |
| Lineage | Guru Gorakhnath |
| Sect | Nath Sampradaya |
| Ordination | 1969 |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Mahant Digvijaynath |
| Post | Mahant |
| Period in office | 1969–2014 |
| Predecessor | Mahant Digvijaynath |
| Successor | Yogi Adityanath |
Disciples | |
Career
editReligious
editAvaidyanath succeeded Mahant Digvijay Nath as the head of Gorakhnath Math. Upon his death in 2014, he was succeeded by Yogi Adityanath (Ajay Mohan Bisht).[3]
Political
editAvaidyanath was elected MLA from Maniram Assembly segment five times – 1962, 1967, 1969 (resigned mid-term), 1974 and 1977, variously as Independent or Hindu Mahasabha's or Janata Party's candidate. He was elected Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur as an Independent candidate in 1970 but lost 1971 General Election when Indira wave swept India. He won again in 1989 as candidate of Hindu Mahasabha. He was elected MP from the same seat in 1991 and 1996 as Bharatiya Janata Party nominee.[4] He retired from electoral politics after that, and his protege Yogi Adityanath was elected to Lok Sabha in 1998 General Election.
Religio-political
editMahant Avaidyanath was a leader of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, founding the Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Samiti (Committee of sacrifice to liberate Ram's birthplace) in 1984. In September of that year, the Samiti launched a "religious procession with Hindu nationalist slogans" from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Ayodhya, with the mission of 'liberating' the Ram temple. Avaidyanath gave sermons exhorting the listeners to give votes only to those parties that promised to liberate the Hindu sacred places.[5]
Death
editHe died on 12 September 2014 in Gorakhpur.[6][7][8][9][10][3] Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi said he was "saddened over the demise of Mahant Avaidyanath ji", and that he will be remembered for his patriotic zeal and determined efforts to serve society.[4]
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and UP BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai also sent condolences on his death.[11]
Commemoration
editA stamp is being released to mark the first death anniversary of Avaidyanath, who was also spiritual father of the current UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He died on 12 September 2014 at the age of 95.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple. Times of India. 1 October 2010
- ^ As Yogi Adityanath's Village Celebrates His Rise, Advice From His Father, NDTV News, 20 March 2017.
- ^ a b "This Muslim volunteer shares a special bond with Yogi Adityanath", Hindustan Times, 20 March 2017
- ^ a b c "Ram Temple movement leader Avaidyanath passes away". Indian Express. 13 September 2014.
- ^ Jaffrelot, Christophe (1996), The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, pp. 362–364, ISBN 978-1850653011
- ^ "Mahant Avaidyanath passes away". Zee News. 13 September 2014.
- ^ "गोरक्षापीठाधीश्वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन". Jagran (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
- ^ "श्रीरामजन्मभूमि आंदोलन के नेता महंत अवेद्यनाथ ब्रह्मलीन". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
- ^ "काशी के संतों ने कहा, समाज के लिए गौरव थे अवेद्यनाथ". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
- ^ "पूर्व भाजपा सांसद व गोरक्षापीठाधीश्वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन". Prabhakar Khabar (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
- ^ "Former MP Mahant Avaidyanath passes away". Zee News. 13 September 2014.