Now, Shankaracharya calls Sai Baba `Muslim`, stokes controversy

Dwarakapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand stirred up another controversy on Sunday after he said that Sai Baba used to refrain from taking a dip in the river Ganga.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Dwarakapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand stirred up another controversy on Sunday after he said that Sai Baba was a Muslim and used to refrain from taking a dip in the river Ganga. Swami Swaroopanand added that Sai Baba used to call himself a Muslim and asked people to keep him away from Ganga river. He questioned the disciples of Sai Baba as to why they bathe in the holy river with his idol when he used to call himself a Muslim. This is not the first time that Swaroopanand had made controversial statement. He had earlier said that worshiping Sai Baba was part of a conspiracy hatched by people to divide Hindus as the saint was not a God but a human being. News reports also quoted Swaroopanand saying that followers of Sai Baba should not worship Lord Rama. His statements have been opposed by the followers of Sai Baba.