Nashik: Meet to settle Lord Hanuman’s birthplace row put to rest after Sadhus clash in Dharmsabha

Due to altercations amongst participating sadhus, a religious meet scheduled for Tuesday in Nashik to put to rest a disagreement about the birthplace of monkey-god Hanuman had to be postponed, with police having to interfere to restore peace and order.

The ‘dharmasabha’ was named after spiritual guru Kishkindha Mathadhipati Swami Govindanand Saraswati, who recently stated that Hanuman was born in Kishkindha, not Anjneri in Nashik, as is popularly thought.

Sadhu-mahants from here decided to arrange a religious meet after he challenged anyone who disagreed with him to produce proof.

Residents and sadhus in Anjneri, however, were opposed to Govindanand Saraswati’s proposal to lead a procession from Trimbakeshwar to Anjneri, believing it would taint the mood.

People stopped the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar route on Monday to express their displeasure at Govindanand Saraswati’s visit, according to officials.

The ‘dharmasabha’ began on a tense note on Tuesday, initially over seating arrangements, then on other concerns, including insults directed at one another, they claimed.

Swami Samvidanand Saraswati of the Kailas Swami Mutt, Shauche Guruji, and Purohit Sangh president Satish Shukla were among those who attended.

The ‘dharmasabha’ has been postponed, according to several sadhus, and a new date will be announced later.