Restore Samadhi Of Adi Shankracharya Ji Within A Year: Uttarakhand HC Directs State [Read Order]

The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday directed the State to restore the Samadhi of Adi Shankracharya Ji at Kedarnath within one year.

The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari  also directed the District Administration to ensure that the local traditional hill architecture is taken into consideration while repairing/restoring the samadhi, and to ensure that the “architecture merges with the surrounding landscape”.

The court was hearing a petition demanding restoration of the samadhi after it was completely washed away in the floods in 2013. Since the petitioner was not present in court, it had appointed Mr. Dushyant Mainali as the amicus curiae. 

The court’s order noted the contribution of Adi Shankracharya Ji towards unification and establishment of the main currents of thought in Hinduism. It said, “Adi Shankracharya Ji was a philosopher and theologian. He unified and established the main currents of thought in Hinduism. He traveled widely. He was born in Village Kaladi in the State of Kerala. He played a very important role in spreading the messages of Sanatan Dharma…

…He retired to Himalayas at the young age of 32 years and entered a cave near Kedarnath. Kedarnath is a Hindu pilgrimage site in the State of Uttarakhand. The Samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya was built near Kedarnath temple. Samadhi was also revered by the pilgrims visiting Kedarnath.”

During the hearing, the court was informed by the Advocate General that necessary permissions had been obtained from competent authorities, and that necessary budget had already been allocated. It was in fact told that the District Administration has started the work on the restoration exercise.

“Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of and the respondents/State is directed to restore the Samadhi of Adi Shankracharya Ji positively within a period of one year from today at Kedarnath,” it therefore ordered, disposing of the petition.