7 Questions submitted to HH the Sankaracharya of Puri by an Unknown Sri Vaishnava

Ram Ji must be ‘prathishit’ in his own abode…, HH Puri Shankaracharya:
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/ram-ji-must-be-prathishit-in-his-own-abode-shankaracharya-clarifies-differences-over-ayodhya-ram-temple-ceremony-11705148553691.html

His Holiness SankaAcharya of Puri says in the report above that the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration must abide by rituals of Sastra …. But what he does not spell out clearly is which specific Sastra rules he wants to be complied with.

The Ramanandi Sect of Ayodhya is said to be the de facto if not (yet) the de jure Trustee of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. The sect has always claimed it adheres to its very own “Bairaagi sampradaya” — the unique tradition as established by their prathama Acharya , Sri Ramananda ji (Ramananda (Rāmānanda) or Swami Ramanand was a 14th-century Vaishnava devotional poet saint, who lived in the Gangetic basin of northern India. The Hindu tradition recognizes him as the founder of the Ramanandi Sampradaya, the largest monastic Hindu renunciant community in modern times).

The questions therefore that I as a practising Sri Vaishnava of the Sri Ramanuja “Sri sampradaayam” would humbly submit to HH Pujyashri Puri Sankaracharya are the following :

1. If the new Ram temple at Ayodhya must be consecrated (pratishtaapanam) as per Sastra , which Sastra is the relevant one ?

2. Is HH Sankaracharya referring to any Agama sastra ? If yes, then which Agama ? Saiva or Vaishnava Agama ?

3. The Sankaracharya Muttadhipathis are leaders of Advaita “sampradaya” . From their respective capitals at Jyotimath, Puri, Dwaraka and Sringeri they propagate the worshipping traditions in famous temples of Shiva and Sharad Amba situated across India. From Kanchi, the Sankaracharya propagates the tradition of worshipping Kamakshi Amman. Thus, if at all these Acharyas are recommending any particular Agama Sastra to be complied with at Ayodhya , they can only be referring to Saiva or Shaaktha Agamas. But the Deity of Sri Ram at Ayodhya is a Vishnu avatar. He is a Vaishnava god and hence the Saiva or Shaktha Agamas will not apply to his temple of Ayodhya.

4. So, if the Saiva or Shaaktha Agama sastra are not relevant to Ayodhya temple then which Sastra does HH Puri Sankaracharya want to apply to the “pratishta” rituals ? Is he referring to any Vaishnava Agama sastra like Vaikhaanasa or Paancharaatra Agama ?

5. If the answer to the above question is Yes, then can it be said that the Ramanandi sampradaaya at Ayodhya will be willing to accept the Vaishnava Agamas referred above ?

6. If the Ramanandi sect does not accept the Vaishnava Agamas then which sastra should they comply with as desired by HH Puri Sankaracharya ?

7. Can the Ramanandis claim to have a separate “agama sastra” which is unique to their very own “sampradaaya”? If yes, then what is it? What are its origins? Where else in any other temple in India is a so-called Ramanandi Agama Sastra prevailing ? Can any living example be cited ?

It is my humble request that if clear answers to the above questions are provided by the HH Puri Sankaracharya or for that matter by any other of the Sankaracharya mutts in the country, then much of the ongoing noisy debates in public that is surrounding the upcoming Ayodhya temple consecration can be put to rest. Ordinary people like us at large in the country can then put behind us all the emotive and unsavoury commentary on the matter that is appearing in the press, TV channels, social media and public domain day in and day out ad nauseum in the past week . It will also do much good to better the larger image of Sanatana Dharma, in my humble view.

This is the sincere submission of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava. 🙏

Sudarshan Madabushi