Bhimashankaralinga Shivacharya

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Jagad Guru Bhimashankar Linga Shivacharya Mahawami is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, currently the 325th Rawal (chief priest) of Kedarnath Dham. He ensures that all the traditions of the temple are followed and the pooja of the Gods take place according to traditional Hindu practice. [1] [2]

Contents

Bhimashankarlingam is tied to the traditions of Lingayat ascetics, emphasizing devotion, scholarship, and community service. [3] Following his predecessors, he assumed leadership of the Bhimashankar Matha, a centuries-old institution in Shiradhon, Nanded, Maharashtra, which serves as a spiritual and cultural hub for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. [4]

Philosophy and contributions

Mahaswami is a proponent of Basavanna's core principles of equality, rational spirituality, and service to humanity. He advocates for strict rules in managing pilgrimages while opposing commercialization and unethical practices. [5]

Work during Kedarnath floods

Shivacharya has led disaster relief efforts during the 2013 North India floods which severely affected Kedarnath, where he coordinated the distribution of food, clothing, and medical supplies to affected families. [6] He began the purification of the Kedarnath Temple following the flood, [7] [8] and raised money for rebuilding of the temple. [6] After the floods, a dispute arose among religious leaders regarding the worship of the Kedarnath idol while cremations of bodies discovered in the area were still pending. Shivacharya decided to move the replica of the 11th Jyotirling idol to Ukhimath, located 61 kilometers from Kedarnath. This decision led to disagreements among spiritual factions. [9] [10] [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Team, DNA Web. "Kedarnath Dham: Who are Rawals? Who is Rawal Bhimashankar Linga?". DNA India. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  2. ↑ "केदारनाथ धाम के रावल भीमाशंकर लिंग की तबीयत बिगड़ी, एयरलिफ्ट कर देहरादून भेजा गया". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  3. ↑ Kaushika, Pragya (2018-04-24). "From Kedarnath to Karnataka: Modi to seek blessings of Lingayat God & priest before polls". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  4. ↑ मोहनावती विचारधन (2021-10-17). भीमाशंकर पालखी विसर्जन|आशीर्वचन|जगद्गुरु भीमाशंकरलिंग शिवाचार्य महास्वामीजी|शिराढोन|मोहनावती विचारधन . Retrieved 2024-11-27– via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Rawal Bhimashankar Linga for strict regulation of Char Dham Yatra".
  6. 1 2 "Karnataka priest to rebuild amenities at Kedarnath". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  7. ↑ "Prayers resume at Kedarnath after mid-June calamity". The Hindu. 2013-09-11. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  8. ↑ "Meeting to decide date for purification at Kedarnath". The Hindu. 2013-07-30. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  9. ↑ InKhabar Official (2013-07-04). India News : Uttarakhand floods- Fight over Kedarnath puja . Retrieved 2024-11-27– via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "केदारनाथ के रावल का भी रहा है विवादों से नाता". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  11. ↑ "Lord Kedarnath moved to Ukhimath – right or wrong". Zee News. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
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