Allahabad HC Rejects PIL Seeking Ban On Printing, Circulation Of Textbook Claiming 'Goddess Gayatri' Is 'Fictitious'

The PIL plea claims that the textbook written by Sant Gyaneshwar Swami Sadanand Ji Parmhans argues that Goddess Gayatri, the personified form of the Gayatri Mantra, a popular hymn from Vedic texts, is 'Kalpanik' [“fictitious”].

Allegedly, it also claims that false and imaginary images and idols of the "so-called Gayatri Devi" are also being created, misleading the religiously inclined people.

A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra junked the PIL plea, noting that the petitioner's another plea for a similar cause had been dismissed as infructuous in 2016.

“…filing of the similar petition again without disclosing the order dated 05.05.2016 passed in Writ Petition No.22673 of 2006 and relying on the interim order passed in the decided writ petition cannot be countenanced,” the bench further remarked as it rejected the PIL plea.

It may be noted that the PIL plea submitted that the private respondents (including the publishers of the book) made insulting comments about 'Gayatri Mantra' and committed the deformation in this regard by publishing the said book.

The book in question, excerpts of which were attached to the PIL plea, allegedly states that Gayatri is not a goddess, nor a mantra. It is merely a verse.

It also adds that the book reveals a mystery, in which millions of men, women, scholars, acharyas, and especially pandits are “trapped due to confusion”.

It states that this information may hurt the feelings of the readers, especially if they have a strong devotion to the so-called Gayatri Devi, however, it calls upon the readers to not feel hurt stressing that they are caught in a misleading devotion to the so-called Gayatri Devi.

Note: The excerpts from the book are taken from the text attached to the PIL plea. We have not independently verified the authenticity of the content in the book in question.