Kerala’s M B Rajesh sparks a row by saying that Adi Shankaracharya was an ‘advocate of caste system’
Kerala Minister and Communist leader M B Rajesh after he called Hindu Vedic philosopher Adi Shankaracharya an advocate and spokesperson of the “cruel caste system”. Drawing a parallel between Shankaracharya and Sree Narayana Gurudeva, he said Narayana is an ‘acharya’ in Kerala and criticized Shankaracharya because he supported the caste system.
While speaking at a programme of Varkala Sivagiri Mutt on Monday, M B Rajesh said, “If Kerala has an acharya, it’s Sree Narayana guru and not Adi Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya was an advocate of the cruel caste system that is based on Manusmriti. Sree Narayana guru worked to weed out the caste system. Shankaracharya has not only supported the caste system but has also been its spokesperson.”
Citing Narayana, the Minister said that Shankaracharya is responsible for the caste system being ingrained in society. “Now there are some interpretations that after Shankaracharya it’s Sree Narayana guru. No. Guru is someone who has criticized Shankaracharya. Sree Narayana guru has said that the caste system has engulfed people and Shankaracharya is also responsible for that,” he claimed.
In response, BJP leader and Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in a statement said that Adi Shankaracharya and Sree Narayana Gurudeva belonged to the same Indian lineage and have put forward the same vision.
” The efforts to insult Shankaracharya will be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. MB Rajesh tried to create division in Hinduism,” Muraleedharan said.
“This false propaganda is a cunning trick of the CPM to win the votes of a section by creating a sawarna-avarna mentality. The efforts to insult Shankaracharya will be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” the Minister added.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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