New Delhi, May 27: In India, certain saints transcend the confines of monasteries and temples, becoming catalysts for ideological movements. Mahant Avadhyanath, the late head of the Gorakhnath Peeth, was one such figure. He championed cultural nationalism, unity among Hindus, and social welfare, leaving a profound impact on people from Eastern Uttar Pradesh to the entire nation.
Born on May 28, 1921, in Kand village of Pauri Garhwal district, Kripal Singh Bisht began his journey in the lap of the Himalayas. This journey evolved into a grand campaign for Hindutva, social harmony, and national consciousness.
Mahant Avadhyanath was a brilliant star in the illustrious tradition founded by his guru, Mahant Digvijayanath. During the freedom struggle, Digvijayanath was vocal about protecting Hindu interests while being associated with the Congress Party. When accusations of appeasement against Muslims intensified, he left Congress to join the Hindu Mahasabha, focusing on organizing the Hindu community. In 1939, he established the All India Avadhut Bhesh Barah Panth Yogi Mahasabha, encouraging saints to engage in social work beyond mere spiritual practices. This legacy was further amplified in Mahant Avadhyanath’s life.
After losing his parents at a young age, Kripal Singh Bisht gravitated towards spirituality. In his youth, he traveled to sacred sites like the Himalayas, Kailash Mansarovar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. His life took a pivotal turn during a trip to Bengal in 1940, where he met Mahant Digvijayanath. On February 8, 1942, at just 23 years old, he was declared Digvijayanath’s successor and given the name ‘Avadhyanath.’ Following his guru’s passing in 1969, he became the head of Gorakhnath Peeth.
Avadhyanath’s influence extended beyond religious leadership. He linked spirituality with social reform and national interests. He believed that religion should not be limited to rituals but should serve as a means to organize and awaken society. He campaigned against untouchability and caste discrimination within the Hindu community. The mass conversion of Harijans in Meenakshipuram, Tamil Nadu, in the 1980s deeply affected him, prompting him to prioritize social harmony and Hindu unity. He often stated that the greatest strength of Hindu society lies in its unity, while its greatest weakness is caste division.
His political influence was also significant. Before taking charge of Gorakhnath Peeth, he was already active in politics. Elected multiple times as a legislator from the Maniram seat in Uttar Pradesh on a Hindu Mahasabha ticket, he represented the public in the assembly elections of 1962, 1967, 1974, and 1977. He later served as a Member of Parliament for the Gorakhpur constituency in 1970, 1989, 1991, and 1996. His political ideology was rooted in Hindutva, social justice, and cultural nationalism.
Mahant Avadhyanath played a crucial role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which holds significant importance in the history of Indian politics and the Hindu movement. In 1984, he became the president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Committee, uniting various akhadas, sects, and religious leaders. During the peak of the Ram temple movement in the 1990s, he emerged as a key pillar. His unwavering resolve was symbolized by the worship conducted at the disputed site during the 1990 kar seva. He viewed the construction of the Ram temple not just as a religious endeavor but as a struggle for cultural identity.
Under his leadership, Gorakhnath Peeth evolved into a center for religious activities, education, health, and social service. He served as the president of the Maharana Pratap Education Council and guided ideological writing as the editor of the Yogvani monthly magazine. His contributions to providing education and health facilities to the underprivileged in Eastern Uttar Pradesh are widely recognized.
A significant chapter in his life was naming Yogi Adityanath as his successor. In 1998, he retired from active politics, declaring Yogi Adityanath as his successor. That same year, Yogi Adityanath was elected as the youngest MP from Gorakhpur. This succession marked the continuation of the ideological tradition from Digvijayanath to Avadhyanath and then to Yogi Adityanath.
Mahant Avadhyanath passed away on September 12, 2014, in Gorakhpur. According to the Nath tradition, he was laid to rest in a padmasana posture. His life continues to resonate within the traditions of Gorakhnath Peeth, the ideological stream of Hindutva, and the campaigns for social harmony.
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