Pahalgam Attack: Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati Slams Terrorists as ‘Ravana and Kansa’ of Kaliyuga, Urges Muslim Community to Prove National Loyalty
Dwarka Sharada Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, expressing deep anguish over the incident.
Speaking on the violence, the Shankaracharya highlighted that in a democratic nation like India, the killing of innocent people, especially those from religious communities, without accountability is deeply troubling.
Nationwide Outrage Over Pahalgam Attack
The Pahalgam attack has sparked widespread condemnation across the country. Among the four prominent Shankaracharyas, Swami Sadanand Saraswati issued a strong rebuke of the violence and called on all Indians to stand united against terrorism. He particularly urged the Muslim community to openly denounce terrorism and reaffirm their commitment to the nation’s values.
Terrorists Misusing Religion
The Shankaracharya emphasized that the attack exposed the hollow claim that “terrorism has no religion.” He pointed out that the terrorists specifically targeted individuals from a particular faith, thereby disproving such narratives.
Terrorists Misusing Religion
Drawing historical parallels, Swami Saraswati remarked that misunderstanding the true essence of “Dharma” has led to religion being wrongly associated with violence. He likened today’s terrorists to the Ravana of Treta Yuga and the Kansa of Dwapara Yuga, stating that in Kaliyuga, these figures have re-emerged as terrorists working to fracture national unity.
He asserted that while India’s military strength makes direct confrontation difficult, foreign conspirators are attempting to destabilize the country internally through terrorism. He stressed that the ultimate weapon against such threats is national unity and called on Hindus to reject all forms of discrimination and division.
Call to Hindu Society
Swami Sadanand Saraswati appealed to Hindus to uphold the principles of Sanatan Dharma and embrace the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam the belief that “the world is one family.”
He clarified that while hatred towards any community is wrong, citizens must possess the right to self-protection. Freedom of religion must be safeguarded alongside the right to live without fear. Emphasizing collective responsibility, he noted that unity across communities is India’s greatest strength against terrorism.
The Shankaracharya also called upon the Indian government, NGOs, Hindus, and Muslims alike to raise a unified voice against terrorism and reinforce their allegiance to the nation. Concluding his remarks, he said, “We are spiritual beings committed to peace, but we also stand firm in defending our national and religious identity.”