Mahant Avaidyanath

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Mahant Avaidyanath was an eminent Indian politician and Hindu priest who served as the Chief Priest (Mahant) of the Gorakhnath Mutt, a prominent temple of the Nath monastic order in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Born as Kripal Singh Bisht in Uttarakhand, he succeeded Mahant Digvijay Nath as the head of the Gorakhnath temple. He played a central role in both regional religious affairs and national politics, serving as a Member of Parliament for the Gorakhpur constituency multiple times, representing both the Hindu Mahasabha and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Avaidyanath was a key figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement during the late 1980s and 1990s, advocating for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He was also instrumental in social reform within Hinduism, actively working to bridge caste divides and advocating for the upliftment of marginalized communities. He is highly regarded as the spiritual and political mentor of Yogi Adityanath, the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, whom he chose as his successor to lead the Gorakhnath Mutt and continue his political legacy. Avaidyanath's influence left a lasting impact on the socio-political landscape of Uttar Pradesh and Indian nationalist politics. He passed away on September 12, 2014, leaving behind a profound legacy of religious leadership and political activism that continues to shape the region.

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