‘Godman’ constructs temple at 16,000 feet on Uttarakhand glacier; investigation launched

PTC News Desk: The Times of India stated that Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash, a self-proclaimed godman, erected an unauthorised shrine at 16,500 feet on government property on the Sunderdhunga glacier near Bageshwar, Uttarkahand.

Despite the area’s ecological sensitivity, the “baba” claimed to have dreamed up divine instructions to erect a temple there.

Mahendra Singh Dhami, a local villager, told the newspaper that the baba persuaded the villagers to back the project by telling them that Devi Bhagwati appeared to him in dreams and gave him the go-ahead to construct the temple at Devi Kund.

Mahendra Singh Dhami further asserted that the Kund, which the people traditionally revered, had been transformed into the baba’s “swimming pool.” It’s common to see him taking a bath there. It’s a sacrilege. That is beyond dispute,” he continued.

This was blasphemy, according to another resident, Prakash Kumar, who spoke with TOI as well. Our gods have been coming to the Kund during the annual Nanda Raj Yatra for millennia. Now, this so-called baba has built this temple against our customs and fooled the villagers. 

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After the temple was constructed, the local government only began to look into it. Judge Anurag Arya of the Kapkot sub-divisional court stated, “I became aware of this issue only recently.”

Anurag Arya added that the godman will soon be dealt with by revenue, forest, and police department officials who would shortly remove the encroachment.

Concerns have been expressed over how simple it is to trespass on sensitive areas at the expense of people and without authorities’ notice.

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