Non-Sanatanis may not enter Badrinath, Kedarnath temples: Badri-Kedar Temple Committee
Anyone who has faith in Sanatan Dharma is a Sanatani; anyone who applies vermillion on the forehead and can recite the Chalisa is a Sanatan, says BKTC chairman Updated - March 12, 2026 01:41 am IST - NEW DELHI The Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) passed a proposal on Monday (March 11, 2026) to restrict the entry of “non-Sanatanis” at the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples in Uttarakhand. The two shrines, part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit and located at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, are among the most visited pilgrimage sites in the State, whose economy is significantly dependent on religious tourism. Speaking to The Hindu, BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi said the decision was taken at a meeting of the temple board on March 10. “The committee has decided to restrict the entry of non-Sanatanis into the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples,” he said. When asked to explain what does he mean by ‘Sanatani’, Mr. Dwivedi said, “Anyone who has faith in Sanatan Dharma is a Sanatani.” When inquired further if a Muslim has a faith in ‘sanatan dharma’ will be allowed to visit the BKTC runs temples, the committee chairman questioned if a Hindu will be allowed to visit ‘Mecca Medina’? “Anyone who applies Vermillion on the forehead....chants mantras, recite chalisas and have faith in Shree Badri and Kedar is a Sanatani,” he said. A similar decision to bar “non-Hindus” from visiting the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples — also part of the Char Dham circuit — had been taken by priests at the two shrines in January this year. Mr. Dwivedi also said the committee had approved a Budget of ₹121.07 crore for the 2026-27 pilgrimage year. According to Budget provisions, ₹57.47 crore has been allocated for the Badrinath temple and ₹63.60 crore for the Kedarnath temple. The proposed expenditure stands at ₹99.45 crore against the estimated income, he said. The Budget has been prepared for the upcoming pilgrimage season. The Kedarnath temple is scheduled to open on April 22, followed by the opening of the Badrinath temple on April 23. The Gangotri and Yamunotri temples will open on April 19 for Akshaya Tritiya. The meeting also discussed amendments to certain provisions of the BKTC Act, which relate to appointments and traditions of the Rawal (chief priest), improving worship and darshan arrangements, employee promotions, removal of pay anomalies for temporary staff, and an increase in honorarium. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx K Rajaram IRS 12326 On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 at 09:48, Madras Sivaraman <[email protected]> wrote: > I read the news that the managers of Kedarnath and Badrinath have > restricted entry into those temples to only those practice sanatana dharma. > Second rule is you must be able to recite hanuman chalisa. I suppose none > in the south can do that even respected sanyasins like sankaracharya or of > the ahobila mutt. > Do these people want GOTN to pass a law that only those who can recite > thiruvachakam in tamil can enter rameshwaram? > > On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 at 9:17 AM, Rajaram Krishnamurthy < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> >> SANATANA DHARMA means the Eternal Religion, the Ancient Law, and it is >> based on the Vedas, sacred books given to men many long ages ago. This >> Religion has also been called the Aryan Religion, because it is the >> Religion that was given to the first nation of the Aryan race ; Arya means >> noble, and the name was given to a great race, much finer in character and >> appearance than the races which went before it in the world's historv. >> >> The first families of these people settled in the northern part of the >> land now called India, and that part in which they first settled was named >> A AAryavarta, because these Aryans lived in it. "(The land) from the >> eastern ocean to the western ocean, between the two mountains (Himavan and >> Vindhya), the wise call Aryavarta." >> >> ( 2 )In later days the Religion was called the Hindu Religion, and this >> is the name by which it is now sually known. It is the oldest of living >> Religions, and no other Religion has produced so many great men great >> teachers, great writers, great sages, great saints, groat kings, great >> warriors, great statesmen, great benefactors, great patriots. The more you >> know of it, the more you will honour and love it, and the more thankful you >> will be that you were born into it. But unless you grow up worthy of it, >> this great and holy Religion will do you no good. The Basis of Sanatana >> Dharma. >> >> The Ancient Religion is based on one strong foundation on which are >> reacted the walls of its structure. The foundation is called : Shrutih >> "that which has been heard ;" the walls are called : Smrtih, "that which >> has been remembered/'The Shruti has been given through very wisemen, who >> heard it and received it from Devas ;these sacred teachings were not >> written down tillcomparatively modern times, but were learnt byheart, and >> constantly repeated.The teacher sang them to his pupils, and thepupils sang >> them after him, a few words at a time, over and over again, till they knew >> them thoroughly. >> >> The Mantra portion consists of Mantras, orsentences in which the order of >> sounds has a particularpower, produces certain effects. These are inthe >> form of hymns to the Devas whose relationsto men we shall study resently >> and when theyare properly chanted by properly instructed persons,certain >> results follow. These are used in religiousceremonies, and the value of the >> ceremony dependschiefly upon their proper repetition. >> >> The Science and Philosophy ofSanatana dharma. >> >> While the Shruti and the Smriti, the Purauasand the Itihasa make the >> edifice of Hindu Religion,we find that the Religion itself hs given rise >> toa splendid literature of Science and Philosophy.The Science was divided >> into the uplift Shadangani,the Six Angas, literally Limbs ; and >> these'Summaries of these have been given as lectures at the C. H. >> College,by Annie Besant, and are published as Tlie Story of the Great War, >> andShri Jtamachandra,V 8 )six Limbs, or Branches, comprised what would >> nowbe called secular knowledge. In the old days religiousand secular >> knowledge were not divided.They included Grammar, Philology, >> Astrology,Poetry, together with sixty-four sciences and arts,and the method >> by which study should be carriedon, so that any one who mastered the six >> angaswas a man of varied and deep learning.The Philosophy also had six >> divisions, theM^SAMIR Shaddarshanani, the Six Darshanas, orways of seeing >> things, usually called the Six Systems.They all have one object : the >> putting anend to pain by enabling the separated human selvespto re-unite >> with the supreme Self ; and they all haveone method the development of tyMH >> Jnanam,Wisdom. The ways employed are different, tosuit the different mental >> constitutions of men, sothat they are like six different roads, all leading >> toone town.As to what is contained in the Six Systems ofphilosophy, it will >> be enough for boys to know this ;The Ny&ya and the Vaisheshika arrange all >> thethings of the world into a certain number of kinds ;then point out that >> a man knows all things bymeans of his senses, or by inference and >> analogy,or by testimony of other (wise and experienced) >> >> The Sankhya explains in more detail and innew ways the nature ofps^T. >> urushaht, Spirit, andof sr^jfan Prakritifr, Matter, and relation of each to >> >> the other.The Yoga says that as there are now generallyknown five senses >> and five organs of action, so thereare other subtler senses and organs; and >> explainsmore fully how they may be developed by men whoare seeking to know >> God, who is their own trueinmost Spirit.The Mimansft explains what karma >> is, L e., action,both religious and worldly, and what are itsconsequences, >> causes and effects, and how it bindsman to this world or to another.The >> Vedanta finally tells fully what is the exactand true nature of God, or >> Atma, and shows thatJiva of man is in essence the same as this inmostGod, >> and explains how man may five so that karmashall not bind him; and finally, >> by understanding( 10 )what the Maya Shakti of God is, by which all >> thisworld comes forth and ppears and disappears, howhe may (after practice >> of Yoga) merge himself intoand become one with God and so gain Moksha. >> >> KR INTRODUCTION EXTRACTED FROM THAT BOOK KR IRS 12326 >> ---------- Forwarded message --------- >> From: Srinivasan Sridharan <[email protected]> >> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2026 at 08:51 >> Subject: Indian History ~ the Real Truth. >> To: Patty Thatha <[email protected]> >> >> >> >> https://www.pinterest.com/pin/354025220731583458/#imgViewer >> This book on Sanatana Duarma is really nice ! I would this to all >> My friends! It is available on digital format! Sridharan >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Thatha_Patty" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/E8B38633-2F4B-4178-881A-2B134DC56B0F%40gmail.com >> . >> >> -- >> On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust >> >> We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join >> >> Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup >> >> Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust >> >> Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: >> https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "KeralaIyers" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CAL5XZoq-GGb4XrmB3cnNf6RzjD%2BQmDqxdGrmfHPrMJuDfcXVXA%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CAL5XZoq-GGb4XrmB3cnNf6RzjD%2BQmDqxdGrmfHPrMJuDfcXVXA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > On Facebook, please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/keralaiyerstrust > > We are now on Telegram Mobile App also, please join > > Pattars/Kerala Iyers Discussions: https://t.me/PattarsGroup > > Kerala Iyers Trust Decisions only posts : https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrust > > Kerala Iyers Trust Group for Discussions: > https://t.me/KeralaIyersTrustGroup > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "KeralaIyers" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CADLnUxifvV9%2BWwJrkaw72S4BVapfmMLkYzh8S%3DTsdje9pB51%2BA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/keralaiyers/CADLnUxifvV9%2BWwJrkaw72S4BVapfmMLkYzh8S%3DTsdje9pB51%2BA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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