Chinna Jeeyar Swamy has entered a fresh controversy after making statements about Adi Shankaracharya that have upset many historians, believers and followers of Sanatana Dharma.
He claimed that Adi Shankaracharya was an ardent Vaishnavite and did not establish the Shankara Peethams at all.
According to him, these Shankara Peethams were instead founded by Vidyaranya, the guru of Harihara Raya and Bukka Raya, in the 13th century.
He further stated that the Shankara Maths should not be attributed to Adi Shankaracharya at all.
While acknowledging that Adi Shankara propounded the Advaita philosophy, he maintained that Adi Shankaracharya was a Vaishnavite and that he travelled to the Himalayas at the age of 32, where he attained samadhi, and therefore never returned to establish any peethams.
These remarks have deeply hurt the sentiments of many scholars, devotees and Sanatanis, who feel that history is being distorted to elevate Vaishnavism while diminishing the importance of Adi Shankaracharya.
Critics have also said that creating divisions between Vishnu and Shiva within Hinduism is inappropriate for a spiritual leader. Many have strongly condemned his statements and have challenged him to public debates.
This is not the first time Chinna Jeeyar Swamy has faced criticism.
Earlier, he sparked outrage by stating that Sammakka and Sarakka were not goddesses, and by claiming that Lord Rama did not establish the Shivalinga at Rameshwaram.
Critics say such repeated remarks hurt Hindu belief systems and sentiments.
