PRAYAGRAJ: Dwarka Shardapeeth Shankrayacharya Sadanand Saraswati believes that the government should set up a Sanatan Board for the growth of Hindu religious institutions.
The government should also initiate the necessary legislation to amend the constitution in order to declare India as a Hindu rashtra or Hindu nation, he told TOI in an interview at the Kumbh Mels site in Prayagraj in Thursday.
“The idea of Wakf board is neither in Koran, nor the constitution,” the Sankracharya said while discussing the Muslim institution that manages the properties of mosques across the country.
The concept and plans of the Sanatan board are being formulated by the famous Hindu storyteller Devkinandan, while seers like him are promoting the idea, he said.
“This is the country of Hindus, the Sanatanis. If Hindu rashtra is declared, how can anyone object?,” he asked.
“The issue is how to declare India under the present constitution. The constitution must be amended to make this possible,” the Shankarya said while talking to this writer. A number of people had come for his ‘darshan’.
Asked what would be the shape and substance of the Hindu Rashtra, the seer laughed said we will discuss this some other time.
The Kumbh Mels has drawn a much larger number of people compares to similar Kumbh melas in the past.
“As you would say, quantity has increased but there is need for improvement in quality.
The feeling of devotion must come from within oneself. Is the body practising dharma or the spirit within the body—this is an issue that must be understood,” the seer said.
“There has been an increase in religiosity among the people. There is also an increase in the resources available for the spread of religion. Transportation facilities have increased. This is the reason why the number of people visiting the Mels has increased,” he said.
