The controversy has escalated over Jagadguru Rambhadracharya's remarks about the Sanskrit knowledge of Saint Premanand Maharaj of Vrindavan. Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotish Peeth has bly criticized Rambhadracharya, saying that Premanand Ji chants the name of God day and night, and this itself is in the Sanskrit language.
New Delhi: The remarks made by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya about Saint Premanand Maharaj of Vrindavan have now become a cause for serious debate in the community of saints. Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotish Peeth has taken a b stance on this statement, saying that Premanand Maharaj chants the name of God day and night, and his every word is connected to Sanskrit. Questioning this, he said, "If you cannot see, can you not hear?"
Avimukteshwaranand says that Premanand Maharaj's life is dedicated to the remembrance and propagation of the name of God. It is not appropriate to accuse such a saint of lacking knowledge of Sanskrit.
Avimukteshwaranand Said God's Name Itself is Sanskrit
Swami Avimukteshwaranand, in support of Premanand Maharaj, clearly stated that names like Radhe-Radhe, Krishna-Krishna, Hey Govind, Hey Gopal are not only symbols of devotion but are also the root words of the Sanskrit language. He said that Premanand Maharaj utters these names throughout the day, and in this way, he is unknowingly propagating Sanskrit itself.
He sarcastically said that if someone claims that Premanand Maharaj does not have knowledge of Sanskrit, then perhaps he cannot even hear which language all these names come from.
Rambhadracharya Questioned the Scholarship of Premanand Maharaj
The controversy began when Jagadguru Rambhadracharya questioned the scholarship of Premanand Maharaj in a podcast. He had said that if Premanand Maharaj could speak even one letter of Sanskrit or explain the meaning of any of his shlokas, he would consider him a miraculous saint.
This statement caused resentment in the community of saints. Many saints considered it an attack on the spiritual reputation of Premanand Maharaj. However, seeing the growing controversy, Rambhadracharya clarified that he had not made any inappropriate remarks and that Premanand was like a son to him. He also said that whenever Premanand Maharaj comes to meet him, he will embrace him wholeheartedly.
Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati's Statement Raised Big Questions in the Saint Community
Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati's sharp reaction has raised a big question in the community of saints: should a saint's identity be based on his scholarship or his devotion? He says that it is wrong to judge Premanand Maharaj on the basis of scholarship because his life is an example of devotion and spiritual practice.
Many scholars and devotees believe that devotion itself is the greatest knowledge. If a saint is inspiring devotees towards the name of God, then that is his greatest contribution. This controversy has further deepened the debate about how important the role of language is in religion and spirituality.
