Nagpur, April 26: Dhirendra Shastri, the spiritual leader of Bageshwar Dham, addressed reporters in Nagpur on Sunday regarding the controversy surrounding his recent comments about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He stated that the ongoing disputes and media attention have become part of his destiny.
Shastri remarked, “Whenever we come to Nagpur, something happens. Last time, we said nothing, yet a controversy arose. This time, we spoke positively about respect, highlighting how saintly and dedicated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was, but it was misrepresented.”
He elaborated that certain individuals consistently oppose Sanatan and saints, aiming to undermine them.
Shastri suggested, “It is also possible that there is a conspiracy behind this. Anyone who hears the full statement and understands its true meaning will not misconstrue it. We did not say anything inappropriate. Our intention was to express respect. Nevertheless, we have expressed regret and offered an apology.”
He further discussed the distinction between faith and superstition. Shastri explained, “There is a fine line between faith and superstition. Faith based on understanding is genuine, while belief without comprehension is superstition. We never claim that people should worship us. In every gathering and discourse, we clearly state that we aim to connect people not to ourselves, but to God Balaji Hanuman.”
He emphasized, “If encouraging devotion to Lord Hanuman, inspiring the reading of Hanuman Chalisa, or urging visits to Hanuman temples is considered superstition, then all religions in this country would have to be deemed superstitious.”
Shastri clarified that his platform does not promote any form of superstition but aims to prevent conversions occurring under the guise of so-called miracles. “We only pray to Lord Hanuman,” he stated.
Regarding his comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shastri explained, “The context was entirely different. We were discussing a disciple’s devotion to his guru, much like how Arjuna in the Mahabharata expressed his reluctance to fight against his own kin, prompting Krishna to impart the Gita.”
He added, “We have heard from saints and great personalities about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s profound reverence for saints and deep loyalty to his guru, Samarth Ramdas Swami. We did not intend to insult anyone. Our goal was merely to highlight his greatness and deep commitment to saints, but a small excerpt was taken out of context and spread.”
Shastri also shared his views on population control, stating, “If population control is to be implemented, it should apply equally to everyone. There are individuals with many children, and when we mentioned four children among Hindus, it sparked controversy.”
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