Seers want Akharas to declare assets, govt or AIAP to control sales

After Mahant Narendra Giri, the president of the All India Akhara Parishad, was found dead on Monday, there is clamour in seer circles for akharas to declare assets and the government or AIAP to exercise control over sale of assets.

The Nirvani Math, Baghambari Gaddi Math, Niranjani Akhara and many other seer organisations have a lot of immovable properties including farmland, schools and ashrams. Reports allege that Narendra Giri had disagreement with his disciple on selling land that belonged to the Niranjani Akhara which he headed. Uday Giri of the Sri Shambu Panchayati Atal Akhara in Prayagraj said it was time the government and the body of seers stopped sale of land that belonged to akharas for ages.

"This is our cultural and historical heritage...some seers don't even have the expertise to handle such transactions and get trapped. The government and the larger body of seers should oversee such moves and stop akharas from selling large pieces of land," he said.


Elected twice as the head of the AIAP, founded in 1954 to decide important issues related to ascetics, Narendra Giri was often seen publicly supporting the BJP as "it was the only party that spoke for the welfare of saints". Giri had consistently asked the parishad to be made part of the Ram temple trust and released a list of 'fake akharas', which angered many. He was in the spotlight when Kailashanand Giri Maharaj was made the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Niranjani Akhara, as it broke convention of avoiding inter-state appointments.

"Akhara heads and their associates often involve outsiders to buy or sell assets to raise money to run their operations and manage expansions. But it often leads to disputes between gurus and disciples. To stop this, akharas should be asked to declare assets, so that there is transparency," said Swami Chinmayanand.