AHMEDABAD: A huge controversy erupted after Sadhu Anand Sagar Swami allegedly made an insulting speech about Lord Shiva in a Satsang meeting held in honour of Prabodha Swami in Boston, America.
In a video, which went viral due to the controversy created, Anand Sagar Swami implies that Prabodh Swami is bigger than Lord Shiva. This statement has hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Sanatan Dharma all over Gujarat and elsewhere.
Swami, belonging to the Prabodha Swami group, narrated an incident In the Satsang meeting, where he tells a story about a boy, Nishit- a student styuding at 'Atmiya Dham' run by Sokhda Sanstha at Karamsad, Vidyanagar in Anand District of Gujarat.
According to the narration of the incident, "Nishit goes to the gate as instructed by Prabodha Swami, where he sees Lord Shiva waiting outside the gate. Nishit asks lord Shiva to, 'Please come with me and meet Prabodha Swami.' But lord Shiva refuses, saying, 'My piety has not grown up to that level that I can see a holy image of Prabodha Swami', after which Shiva touches Nishit's feet and leaves."
Anand Sagar Swami's comment on Lord Shiva, implying that Prabodha Swami is bigger than Lord Shiva, has led to fierce anger raised among the monks and saints, as well as Shiva's devotees all over Gujarat and other states.
Subsequently, social media was flooded by reaction video messages, with various people condemning the remark and asking for Ananad Sagar Swami's removal from the Prabodha Swami group.
Condemning the statement, Mahamandleshwar Narendra Bapu said, "Expel Anandsagar Swami from the sect. Comments that are not compatible with religion should not be made. His followers should expel such seers."
Vadtal Satsang Sabha President Nautam Swamy also reacted to controversy, saying, "Anandsagar Swami has given such a speech to increase the glory of the Guru. Such a statement tarnishes the Swaminarayan sect. Such saints should never be believed."
State president of Rajput Karni Sena, J.P. Jadeja, also reacted with, 'Seers should think before praising their Guru. Saints should not mislead people. A true saint is harmed by seers like Anand Sagar."
Brahma Samaj members organised a protest at Rajkot, where the protesters burned the posters of Anand Sagar Swami. Meanwhile, Bhrama Samaj representatives filed a complaint at B Division Police Station in Rajkot against Anand Sagar Swami for hurting the religious sentiments of 'Shiv bhakts'. The police reportedly accepted the complaint.
General Secretary of Brahma Samaj, Milan Shukla, said "We have given an application to police and demanded that strict action must be taken against Anand Sagar,"
However, due to the outrage over his statement, Anand Sagar Swami released this video message on Tuesday and apologized for his statement. In the video, he said that during a lecture in a Satsang in America, the words that he said about Lord Shiva were an attempt to give value to the feelings of a young man. "I have made a mistake; I apologize to all Shiva devotees" he said in the message.
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