Mahant Avaidyanath

Mahant Avaidyanath (born Kripal Singh Bisht, 28 May 1921–12 September 2014) was an Indian politician and Hindu preacher. He was the Mahant (chief priest) of Gorakhnath Math, succeeding his guru Digvijay Nath. He was also a politician of the Hindu Mahasabha and, later Bharatiya Janata Party, being elected to the Lok Sabha from Gorakhpur four times. He played an important role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He was the mentor and guru of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.[1][2]

Mahant Avaidyanath
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
December 1989 – March 1998 (3 times)
Preceded byMadan Pandey
Succeeded byYogi Adityanath
ConstituencyGorakhpur
In office
January 1970 – March 1971
Preceded byMahant Digvijay Nath
Succeeded byNarsingh Narain Pandey
Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office
March 1962 – February 1980 (5 times)
Preceded byKeshav Pandey
Succeeded byHaridwar Pandey
ConstituencyManiram
Personal details
Born
Kripal Singh Bisht

(1921-05-28)28 May 1921
Kandi, Garhwal District, United Provinces, British India (present-day Pauri Garhwal district, Uttrakhand)
Died12 September 2014(2014-09-12) (aged 93)
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
OccupationPolitician, monk
Personal
ReligionHinduism
DenominationShaivism
SchoolYoga
LineageGuru Gorakhnath
SectNath Sampradaya
TempleGorakhnath Math
Religious career
GuruMahant Digvijaynath
Period in office1969–2014
PredecessorMahant Digvijaynath
SuccessorYogi Adityanath
Disciples
Ordination1969
PostMahant

Career

Religious

Avaidyanath succeeded Mahant Digvijay Nath as the head of Gorakhnath Math. Upon his death in 2014, he was succeeded by Yogi Adityanath (Ajay Mohan Bisht).[3]

Political

Avaidyanath was elected MLA from Maniram Assembly segment five times – 1962, 1967, 1969 (resigned mid-term), 1974 and 1977, variously as Independent or Hindu Mahasabha's or Janata Party's candidate. He was elected Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur as an Independent candidate in 1970 but lost 1971 General Election when Indira wave swept India. He won again in 1989 as candidate of Hindu Mahasabha. He was elected MP from the same seat in 1991 and 1996 as Bharatiya Janata Party nominee.[4] He retired from electoral politics after that, and his protege Yogi Adityanath was elected to Lok Sabha in 1998 General Election.

Religio-political

Mahant Avaidyanath was a leader of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, founding the Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Samiti (Committee of sacrifice to liberate Ram's birthplace) in 1984. In September of that year, the Samiti launched a "religious procession with Hindu nationalist slogans" from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Ayodhya, with the mission of 'liberating' the Ram temple. Avaidyanath gave sermons exhorting the listeners to give votes only to those parties that promised to liberate the Hindu sacred places.[5]

Death

He died on 12 September 2014 in Gorakhpur.[6][7][8][9][10][3] Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi said he was "Saddened over the demise of Mahant Avaidyanath ji. He will be remembered for his patriotic zeal and determined efforts to serve society."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and UP BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai also sent condolences on his death.[11]

Commemoration

A stamp is being released to mark the first death anniversary of Avaidyanath, who was also spiritual father of the current UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He died on 12 September 2014 at the age of 93.

References
  1. As Yogi Adityanath's Village Celebrates His Rise, Advice From His Father, NDTV News, 20 March 2017.
  2. 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple. Times of India. 1 October 2010
  3. "This Muslim volunteer shares a special bond with Yogi Adityanath", Hindustan Times, 20 March 2017
  4. "Ram Temple movement leader Avaidyanath passes away". Indian Express. 13 September 2014.
  5. Jaffrelot, Christophe (1996), The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, pp. 362–364, ISBN 978-1850653011
  6. "Mahant Avaidyanath passes away". Zee News. 13 September 2014.
  7. "गोरक्षापीठाधीश्वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन". Jagran (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
  8. "श्रीरामजन्मभूमि आंदोलन के नेता महंत अवेद्यनाथ ब्रह्मलीन". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
  9. "काशी के संतों ने कहा, समाज के लिए गौरव थे अवेद्यनाथ". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
  10. "पूर्व भाजपा सांसद व गोरक्षापीठाधीश्‍वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन". Prabhakar Khabar (in Hindi). 12 September 2014.
  11. "Former MP Mahant Avaidyanath passes away". Zee News. 13 September 2014.
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