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A new religious campaign regarding cow protection started on Friday from Kedarghat in Varanasi. Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, along with the sages and saints, performed the ritual worship of Mother Ganga and from here, he sounded the conch shell of the cow-respect crusade. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary was also mentioned in the program and Shankaracharya applied tilak on his portrait and offered flowers.

The next phase of this campaign is scheduled from Saturday morning. Shankaracharya will first worship at Shrichintamani Ganesh and Sankatmochan temple, then the journey will begin towards Lucknow. According to the announced program, meetings on cow protection will be held at more than a dozen places in six districts in the next four days. The yatra will pass through Jaunpur, Sultanpur, Rae Bareli, Unnao and Lakhimpur Kheri and reach Lucknow on March 11.

Demand for 40 days, mention of completion of 35 days

Shankaracharya reiterated his demand placed before the Uttar Pradesh government earlier. He says that within 40 days, Mother Cow should be declared the Mother of the State and cow slaughter should be completely banned in the state. He said that 35 days have passed on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Friday, but no decision has been taken by the government yet. It is in this background that he announced to take the movement to the next phase.

During his address at Kedarghat, Shankaracharya also made the people present take a pledge to protect cows. Referring to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said that as the founder of Hindavi Swarajya, his vision was to the protection of cow, Brahmin and religion. Shankaracharya also said that at the age of 12, Shivaji Maharaj had freed a cow by punishing a cow killer and at the same time had declared a struggle to protect mother cow.

Arguments from religious texts

In his statement, he referred to Ramayana and traditional texts and said that Lord Rama had vowed to Vishwamitra to fulfill his promise for the welfare of cows, Brahmins and the nation. In this sequence, while referring to Sambhaji Maharaj’s Budh Bhushan book, he said that the Kshatriya who gives his life to protect the cows, Brahmins and temples, is entitled to heaven and his fame remains permanent.

Shankaracharya also said that at present such elements are active who are trying to harm cows, Brahmins and temples. According to him, there is a need for a crusade against such people and the time has come to identify pseudo Hindus. This campaign has been started in that direction.

Cultural presentation and honor at the meeting place

Along with religious speeches, cultural presentations also took place in the programme. At the ghat, the artists presented a short drama based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was watched by the people present. At the end of the event, Shankaracharya was given the Karpatra Cow Bhakt Samman by All India Saraswat Parishad for his efforts for cow protection.

Girish Chandra Tiwari and Prof. associated with the council. Vivekananda Tiwari told that this first honor has been given to Shankaracharya. Now all eyes are on his announced journey, in which he will raise his demands on public platforms through frequent meetings and outline the next phase on March 11 in Lucknow.