Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday visited Shri Guru Goraksha Nath Akhara at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and performed a ceremonial worship of the 'Dharm Dhwaj'.
He also held discussions with Siddha Yogeshwars from across the country, according to a statement from the state government.
Yogi Mahasabha Special Vice President Mahant Balak Nath Yogi said, "This akhara belongs to the Chief Minister himself. It is rooted in the Nath sect and follows the tradition of Guru Goraksha Nath Ji."
He added, "Since the establishment of the Dharma Dhwaj, Siddha Yogeshwars from various parts of India have been visiting here. Complete arrangements for their stay, meals, and prasad are made at the akhara."
Adityanath described the Maha Kumbh as the biggest event in the world, symbolising unity, and likened Sanatan Dharma to a banyan tree.
"Sanatan Dharma is like a vast and majestic banyan tree. It should never be compared to mere shrubs or bushes," he said.
According to the government statement, the CM attended an event organised by the All-India Avadhoot Bhes Barah Panth-Yogi Mahasabha during his visit to Prayagraj.
"While the world may have different sects and forms of worship, there is only one true religion, Sanatan Dharma, which is the essence of humanity. In India, all forms of worship, though linked to various sects and traditions, are deeply rooted in Sanatan Dharma, sharing a common goal," he said.
Adityanath termed the ongoing mega fair a "sacred event" that delivers a unified message to the world. "As Prime Minister Narendra Modi often says, the message of Mahakumbh is that unity ensures the nation remains undivided."
He added, "If India is safe, we are all safe. If India faces a crisis, it will impact Sanatan Dharma, and no sect or tradition within the country will feel secure. To prevent such a situation, spreading the message of unity is essential."
Adityanath emphasised that Sanatan Dharma spread across the world not through force, but through goodwill. He also asserted that Sanatan Dharma does not discriminate on the basis of caste, sect, or religion.
"The only thing that matters is faith," he said.
During his visit, Adityanath also honoured Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri (Chikkamagaluru district), the state government said.
"It is a matter of immense pride that the revered Shankaracharya of Sringeri Peetham has graced Prayagraj with his presence. The Mahakumbh feels complete with your arrival," he said.
The Shankaracharya’s formal participation in the Maha Kumbh comes after a long gap. "Your five-day stay is a blessing for us," Adityanath said.
The Shankaracharya noted that 48 years ago, his guru's guru had visited the Kumbh to take a dip during Amavasya. However, it was after 150 years that a Shankaracharya from the South was formally participating in the Maha Kumbh, he said.
During his stay, the Shankaracharya will engage in 'shastrartha' (intellectual debate) and take a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam on Amavasya along with his peers.
Adityanath also visited the ashram of Shri Kalyan Seva Ashram, Amarkantak, in Sector 19, where he met Sadgurudev Baba Kalyan Das Ji Maharaj for a personal discussion.
Kalyan Seva Ashram, located in the sacred city of Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, has been active since 1977.
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