https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mahant_AvaidyanathMahant Avaidyanath - Revision history2026-07-31T03:49:17ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Mahant_Avaidyanath&diff=467673&oldid=prevStephanieWentwor at 04:35, 5 February 20262026-02-05T04:35:43Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian politician (1921-2014)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| image = Mahant Avaidyanath 2015 stamp of India.jpg<br />
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]<br />
| term_start = December 1989<br />
| constituency = [[Gorakhpur Lok Sabha Constituency|Gorakhpur]]<br />
| predecessor = Madan Pandey<br />
| successor = [[Yogi Adityanath]]<br />
| term_start2 = January 1970<br />
| predecessor2 = [[Digvijay Nath|Mahant Digvijay Nath]]<br />
| successor2 = Narsingh Narain Pandey<br />
| office3 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]<br />
| term_start3 = March 1962<br />
| term_end3 = February 1980 (5 times)<br />
| constituency3 = [[Maniram Assembly constituency|Maniram]]<br />
| predecessor3 = Keshav Pandey<br />
| successor3 = Haridwar Pandey<br />
| birth_name = Kripal Singh Bisht<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1921|05|28}}<br />
| birth_place = Kandi, [[Garhwal District]], [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Pauri Garhwal district]], [[Uttrakhand]])<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|09|12|1921|05|28}}<br />
| death_place = [[Gorakhpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]<br />
| birthname = <br />
| nationality = Indian<br />
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]<br />
| otherparty = [[Hindu Mahasabha]], [[Janata Party]]<ref name=IEMahant>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/ram-temple-movement-leader-avaidyanath-passes-away/#sthash.b9obEOP8.dpuf<br />
|title=Ram Temple movement leader Avaidyanath passes away |date= 13 September 2014 |work=[[Indian Express]]<br />
}}</ref><br />
| spouse = <br />
| children = <br />
| residence = <br />
| education = <br />
| occupation = Politician, monk<br />
| signature = <br />
| website = <br />
| term_end = March 1998 (3 times) <br />
| footnotes = <br />
| awards = <br />
| term_end2 = March 1971<br />
| module = {{Infobox religious biography|embed=yes<br />
| religion = [[Hinduism]]<br />
| denomination = [[Shaivism]]<br />
| school = [[Yoga]]<br />
| sect = [[Nath|Nath Sampradaya]]<br />
| lineage = [[Guru Gorakhnath]]<br />
| guru = [[Mahant Digvijaynath]]<br />
| disciples = [[Yogi Adityanath]]<br />
| post = [[Mahant]]<br />
| temple = [[Gorakhnath Math]]<br />
| ordination = 1969<br />
| period = 1969–2014<br />
| predecessor = [[Mahant Digvijaynath]]<br />
| successor = [[Yogi Adityanath]]<br />
}}}}<br />
<br />
'''Mahant Avaidyanath''' (born '''Kripal Singh Bisht''', 28 May 1921–12 September 2014) was an Indian politician and the head priest ([[Mahant]]) of the [[Gorakhnath Math]], a prominent [[Hindu]] temple in [[Gorakhpur]].<ref name=TOI92>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/92-yr-old-Avaidyanath-hopes-to-see-temple/articleshow/6661784.cms 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple]. ''Times of India''. 1 October 2010 </ref> He was a member of the [[Hindu Mahasabha]] and, later [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]; and got elected to the Indian parliament ([[Lok Sabha]]) from [[Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)|Gorakhpur]] four times. He played an important role in the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] movement. He is better known as the mentor and guru of [[Uttar Pradesh]] Chief Minister [[Yogi Adityanath]].<ref name=TOI92/><ref name=village>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/yogi-adityanaths-village-celebrates-advice-from-chief-ministers-father-1671266 As Yogi Adityanath's Village Celebrates His Rise, Advice From His Father], NDTV News, 20 March 2017. </ref><br />
<br />
== Career ==<br />
===Religious===<br />
Avaidyanath succeeded ''[[Mahant]]'' [[Digvijay Nath]] as the head of [[Gorakhnath Math]]. Upon his death in 2014, he was succeeded by [[Yogi Adityanath]] (Ajay Mohan Bisht).<ref name=ht0317>{{citation |title=This Muslim volunteer shares a special bond with Yogi Adityanath |url=http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/this-muslim-volunteer-shares-a-special-bond-with-yogi/story-rcNFSOsmARB8GrGwlyGB7H.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=20 March 2017 }}</ref><br />
<br />
===Political===<br />
Avaidyanath was elected [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] from [[Maniram (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Maniram Assembly]] segment five times – 1962, 1967, 1969 (resigned mid-term), 1974 and 1977, variously as Independent or Hindu Mahasabha's or Janata Party's candidate. He was elected Lok Sabha member from [[Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)|Gorakhpur]] as an Independent candidate in 1970 but lost 1971 General Election when Indira wave swept India. He won again in 1989 as candidate of [[Hindu Mahasabha]]. He was elected MP from the same seat in 1991 and 1996 as [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] nominee.<ref name=IEMahant>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/ram-temple-movement-leader-avaidyanath-passes-away/#sthash.b9obEOP8.dpuf<br />
|title=Ram Temple movement leader Avaidyanath passes away |date= 13 September 2014 |work=[[Indian Express]]<br />
}}</ref> He retired from electoral politics after that, and his protege Yogi Adityanath was elected to Lok Sabha in 1998 General Election.<br />
<br />
=== Religio-political ===<br />
Mahant Avaidyanath was a leader of the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] movement, founding the ''Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Yagna Samiti'' (Committee of sacrifice to liberate Ram's birthplace) in 1984. In September of that year, the ''Samiti'' launched a "religious procession with Hindu nationalist slogans" from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Ayodhya, with the mission of 'liberating' the Ram temple. Avaidyanath gave sermons exhorting the listeners to give votes only to those parties that promised to liberate the Hindu sacred places.<ref name=Jaffrelot>{{citation |last=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |authorlink=Christophe Jaffrelot|title=The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers |year=1996 |isbn=978-1850653011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iVsfVOTUnYEC&pg=PA362 |pages=362–364}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Death ==<br />
He died on 12 September 2014 in [[Gorakhpur]].<ref>{{cite news<br />
|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/former-mp-mahant-avaidyanath-passes-away_1469076.html<br />
|title=Mahant Avaidyanath passes away<br />
|date= 13 September 2014<br />
|work=[[Zee News]]<br />
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news<br />
|url=https://www.jagran.com/news/national-mahant-avaidyanath-passes-away-11625852.html<br />
|title=गोरक्षापीठाधीश्वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन<br />
|date= 12 September 2014<br />
|work=Jagran<br />
|language=Hindi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news<br />
|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/news/desh/national/article1-mahant-awaidyanath-gorakhnath-temple-death--39-39-450851.html<br />
|title=श्रीरामजन्मभूमि आंदोलन के नेता महंत अवेद्यनाथ ब्रह्मलीन<br />
|date=12 September 2014<br />
|work=Live Hindustan<br />
|language=Hindi<br />
|archive-date=13 September 2014<br />
|access-date=12 September 2014<br />
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913032234/http://www.livehindustan.com/news/desh/national/article1-mahant-awaidyanath-gorakhnath-temple-death--39-39-450851.html<br />
|url-status=dead<br />
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news<br />
|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/news/desh/national/article1-story-39-39-450855.html<br />
|title=काशी के संतों ने कहा, समाज के लिए गौरव थे अवेद्यनाथ<br />
|date=12 September 2014<br />
|work=Live Hindustan<br />
|language=Hindi<br />
|archive-date=13 September 2014<br />
|access-date=12 September 2014<br />
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913015935/http://www.livehindustan.com/news/desh/national/article1-story-39-39-450855.html<br />
|url-status=dead<br />
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news<br />
|url=http://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/national/yogi-adityanath-ex-bjp-mp-mahant-maharaj-avedyanath-died/148139.html#sthash.EsdZW1O1.dpuf<br />
|title=पूर्व भाजपा सांसद व गोरक्षापीठाधीश्वर महंत अवेद्यनाथ का निधन<br />
|date= 12 September 2014<br />
|work=Prabhakar Khabar<br />
|language=Hindi}}</ref><ref name=ht0317/> [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Narendra Modi]] said he was "saddened over the demise of Mahant Avaidyanath ji", and that he will be remembered for his patriotic zeal and determined efforts to serve society.<ref name=IEMahant/><br />
<br />
Home Minister [[Rajnath Singh]] and UP BJP president [[Laxmikant Bajpai]] also sent condolences on his death.<ref>{{cite news<br />
|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/former-mp-mahant-avaidyanath-passes-away_1469076.html<br />
|title=Former MP Mahant Avaidyanath passes away<br />
|date= 13 September 2014<br />
|work=[[Zee News]]<br />
}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Commemoration ==<br />
A stamp is being released to mark the first death anniversary of Avaidyanath, who was also spiritual father of the current UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He died on 12 September 2014 at the age of 93.<ref name=IEMahant/><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Yogi Adityanath]]<br />
*[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]<br />
*[[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avaidyanath, Mahant}}<br />
[[Category:1921 births]]<br />
[[Category:2014 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu Mahasabha politicians]]<br />
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Politicians from Gorakhpur]]<br />
[[Category:India MPs 1967–1970]]<br />
[[Category:India MPs 1989–1991]]<br />
[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]<br />
[[Category:India MPs 1996–1997]]<br />
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1962–1967]]<br />
[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1967–1969]]<br />
[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1969–1974]]<br />
[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1974–1977]]<br />
[[Category:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1977–1980]]</div>StephanieWentwor