Botad: A statue of Hanumanji offering fruits to Nilkanthvarni (AD 1781 to 1830) installed in Kundal Swaminarayan Mandir in Barvala taluka has caused controversy among the devotees of Hanumanji as this is believed a clear distortion of Hindu Sanatan dharma.

The statue of Hanumanji offering fruits to Nilkanth Varni is installed in the garden near a river bridge, beside the parking in the Kundal Swaminarayan mandir. Kundal Dham Swaminarayan Mandir is run by Swaminarayan Mandir Karelibag in Vadodara.

Ancient Hindu god Hanuman Ji is shown offering fruits to Nilkanthvarni who is also called Sahajanand Swami which happened over 200 years ago.  It is being seen as yet another attempt of the Swaminarayan sect to show Hindu Sanatana Gods as dasa of Sahajanand Swami who was himself a devotee of Hindu Gods.

While earlier Hanuman statue was made sit in the sand and his Gada was placed with Sahajanand Swami, but after controversy, Hanumanji ‘s statue has been placed on a stone and Gada has been put with it.

Mahamandaleshwar 1008 Ramjubapu, Mahant of Ambika Ashram in Sangana, Talaja taluka, has made this video viral on social media. In the video, he stated, “Baap (father) should not be considered as Daas (servant).” He stated that they are teaching the students that Swaminarayan culture is greater than Sanatan culture. They also teach against the Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads, he stated.

The carved pictures of Hanumanji performing Vandan to Swaminarayan Bhagvan at the base of the 54-foot Hanumanji statue in Salangpur Dham have already caused controversy among the devotees. A meeting of Sanatani Sadhus was held in Junagadh to take action against the issue. DeshGujarat