Varanasi’s religious sects give elections a divine touch

The culturally complex, ancient city of Varanasi is home to hundreds of cults, religious sects and mutts. 

Originating from early century saints --including the prominent and the lesser known--most of these cults adhere to specific political ideologies. 

They wield power in influencing the political decisions of locals, and had their say too, in the current Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. 

The Kabirchaura mutt trust will of Varanasi, for instance, has more than 5,000 dedicated followers from the city and lakhs from across the country. Its chief Mahant Vivekdas Acharya is clearly upset with the BJP for keeping several works pending at the local ashram, including a Kabir museum under the union culture ministry and has urged followers to vote for a "secular" party. 

"Who they vote for, is their individual choice. But when they come and ask for my suggestion, I tell them to vote for a secular party," Vivekdas Acharya told DNA.

The mahant, who was part of the Naxal movement in the eighties, clarified that though that secularism is what Saint Kabir preached. However, he emphasised that no BJP leader had come to meet him in this political season. 

The mutt has followers across castes and communities. Recently, state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had met Vivekdas Acharya and spent two hours with him, where he taught him about Kabir and his teachings. 

"He (Akhilesh Yadav) said he would spend more time learning about Kabir and has offered to help us in whichever way he can," he said.

The Mahant was also not happy with the BSP and feels its chief Mayawati has thoroughly neglected the mutt and its affairs. 

"She has never come to visit us or took any interest in the mutt's affairs. I don't have to explain to people. They know who has done what and will decide their votes accordingly," he said. 

In 2014, too, he was quite vocal against Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was contesting from Varanasi and had expressed that he doesn't reflect the inclusive and composite culture of the city.  Following that RSS leader Indresh Kumar had come to meet him, where they have addressed a gathering together.

Similarly, the Sant Ravidas temple in Seer Goverdhanpur of Varanasi, has more than 10,000 followers in the city, majority of whom are Dalits. President of the mission Acharya Bharat Bhushan Das says many followers have asked him to show the way this election. 

"I have asked them to look at the local candidate and not at the one who is at the top. It is the local candidate who they would contact and who will solve their woes," he told DNA.

Elaborating further, he said, the problem with the Dalits, who comprise a major percentage of his followers, are neglected from all ends.

"The party for which the Dalits vote, knows that they are with them. So, they don't take any effort to better their lives. The others think they (Dalits) are already voting for a particular party, so why do anything to woo them," he said.

He reasoned that as a result, the Dalits usually vote for the one party which they think, comprises their own people. 

He, however, added that since the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014, Dalit youths have shown a trend of voting for the "progressive" party, indicating the BJP. Last year, Modi had visited the temple in his two day trip to Varanasi. 

Varanasi reportedly has more than 142 cults which draws lakhs of visitors from across the country. 

The Ghadwa Ghat ashram of Varanasi, is also known for its strong political affiliations. The ashram, which has a majority of Yadav followers, who are traditionally SP voters. SP leader Shivpal Yadav regularly visits the ashram, while SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Congress VP Rahul Gandhi also visited the ashram recently. 

On his three-day campaigning in the city this month, Modi also visited the ashram head, primarily to woo the Yadavs, the most significant Among the other backward castes (OBCs) of the state.

Another popular Mahant of Varanasi, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had fielded two independent candidates this election to fight from Varanasi. Locals say the seer, who has political ambitions, has locked horns with other parties and his followers are likely to vote for the two independents candidates supported by him. 

Talking to DNA, a senior BHU professor and a poll expert, said the seers and the priests of Varanasi and their mutts will become redundant if Modi comes to power.

"Establishing Varanasi as Hindu territory will make these Mahants and priests redundant. Their role and influence will be over gradually, once Modi comes to power here," he said.