Spiritual leaders are generally expected to remain above political affiliations and avoid displaying preferences for any political leader or party.
Conventionally, they refrain from making political comments or publicly praising or criticising leaders in power or in the opposition, limiting their role to spiritual guidance.
However, political parties in power often attempt to cultivate goodwill with religious figures through various forms of patronage or offerings.
In contrast, some spiritual figures have occasionally been drawn into political controversies.
One such example often cited in Andhra Pradesh politics is Swamy Swaroopanandendra of the Visakha Sarada Peetham, who was widely perceived to have maintained close ties with former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party government.
During that period, the seer had also made critical remarks against then opposition leader and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu.
Political observers now point out that these positions appear to have placed him in a difficult situation after Naidu returned to power in the state.
Same is the case with Vaishnavaite seer Sri Tridanti Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamy. When the YSRCP was in power, this seer was all praise for Jagan.
In February 2022, Jagan paid a visit to the 216-foot Statue of Equality at Muchintal, Hyderabad, at the request of Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, who had lots of connection with Jeeyar Trust.
Then, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy was full of praise for Jagan.
“Generally people who have education, wealth, age and power are arrogant and ignore the advice of elders. But Jagan doesn’t belong here. He is modest and respects elders and is a good listener of elders’ suggestions,” he said.
Comparing Jagan with YSR, Swamy ji further added that “I have acquaintance with YSR and I see many similarities between YSR and Jagan. YSR worked for everyone and Jagan is also doing the same irrespective of criteria.”
“But what surprised me is Jagan’s work in the education sector in AP. I learned that kids from weaker backgrounds are getting high quality education and he has a strong determination,” Jeeyar Swamy said.
Now that Jagan is out of power and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu returned to AP as the chief minister, Chinna Jeeyar has begun criticising Jagan and praising Naidu.
On Sunday, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy made a striking remark linking the political developments in Andhra Pradesh with divine will, stating that Lord Hanuman desired the state capital to remain in Amaravati and therefore ensured the formation of the current coalition government.
Speaking at the consecration ceremony of Lord Hanuman statue at Seethanagaram in Tadepalli, Chinna Jeeyar Swamy said after Lord Hanuman came here, Amaravati emerged as the state capital.
Taking a dig at Jagan, Chinna Jeeyar said: “At one stage, some people tried to remove him from here. But just as the Lord wished the capital city to remain here in Amaravati, he ensured the coming of the coalition government.”
He further remarked that Lord Hanuman would remain at Vijayakeeladri as a ‘Vighna Nivarana Hanuman’ (the remover of obstacles), blessing the expansion and development of Amaravati.
