CM Vishnu Deo Sai Visits Aghor Guru Peeth on Guru Purnima
Synopsis
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited the Aghor Guru Peeth in Banora village, Raigarh on Guru Purnima 2026, offered darshan at the Aghoreshwar statue, received Baba Priyadarshi Ram Ji's blessing, and prayed for the welfare and prosperity of Chhattisgarh's people.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai visited Aghor Guru Peeth, Banora village, Raigarh on Guru Purnima, 29 July 2026 .
He offered darshan at the statue of Aghoreshwar Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram Ji , the peeth's founding saint.
He received the blessing and guidance of Baba Priyadarshi Ram Ji , the current spiritual head of the peeth.
The Chief Minister renewed his resolve to advance social welfare, spiritual values, and selfless service in Chhattisgarh.
The visit aligns with the BJP government's pattern of engaging with Chhattisgarh's diverse local spiritual heritage since December 2023 .
On the full-moon night of Ashadha, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai travelled to Banora village in Raigarh district to pay reverence at the Aghor Guru Peeth — a spiritual centre tied to one of Chhattisgarh's most distinctive devotional traditions — and prayed for the prosperity of the state's people on Guru Purnima, 29 July 2026.
The Chief Minister's Office shared the visit with a Sanskrit verse central to the Aghor and broader Guru-disciple tradition: 'Dhyanamoolam gurormurtih, pujamoolam guroh padam' — 'The root of meditation is the Guru's form; the root of worship is the Guru's feet; the root of the mantra is the Guru's word; the root of liberation is the Guru's grace.' The verse set the register for what followed.
Darshan at the Aghoreshwar statue and Baba Priyadarshi Ram's blessing
CM Sai offered darshan before the statue of Aghoreshwar Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram Ji, the revered 20th-century Aghor saint whose legacy anchors the Banora peeth. He then received the blessing and guidance of Baba Priyadarshi Ram Ji, the peeth's current spiritual head. In the presence of the saint, the Chief Minister renewed his resolve — as the CMO described it — to advance social welfare, spiritual values, and the spirit of selfless service among the people of Chhattisgarh.Aghor Guru Peeth: Raigarh's living spiritual landmark
The Aghor Guru Peeth at Banora is one of the prominent centres of the Aghor tradition in central India — a path that emphasises non-discrimination, service to the marginalised, and direct experience of the divine. Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ram Ji gave the tradition its modern, socially engaged form, and the Banora peeth continues to draw devotees from across the region. For Raigarh, the peeth is both a religious site and a marker of local cultural identity.Guru Purnima and the BJP government's cultural outreach in Chhattisgarh
Guru Purnima — observed on the full moon of the Hindu month of Ashadha — is one of India's most widely marked occasions for honouring teachers and spiritual guides. Visits by elected leaders to temples, peeths, and ashrams on such dates are a standard feature of political-cultural calendars across parties. For the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, which has consistently emphasised the state's tribal and spiritual heritage since CM Sai took office in December 2023, the Banora visit fits a deliberate pattern of engagement with local religious institutions — including those, like the Aghor peeth, that sit outside mainstream Brahminical traditions. The Chief Minister's prayer was directed at the well-being, prosperity, and happiness of all residents of Chhattisgarh — sukh, samridhi evam khushali — a phrase the CMO placed at the centre of its communication.Point of View
Including traditions outside the Brahminical mainstream. The Aghor tradition's historic emphasis on service to the marginalised gives this outreach a social-welfare framing that complements the government's 'Sushasan' (good governance) brand. Repeated district tours combined with visits to local peeths and shrines form a coherent strategy of visible, ground-level presence. Whether the engagement translates into concrete support for the preservation or development of such spiritual sites will be the measure of its policy depth.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Vishnu Deo Sai visit Banora on Guru Purnima 2026?
CM Vishnu Deo Sai visited the Aghor Guru Peeth in Banora, Raigarh to offer darshan at the statue of Aghoreshwar Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram Ji , receive the blessing of Baba Priyadarshi Ram Ji , and pray for the welfare and prosperity of Chhattisgarh's people on the occasion of Guru Purnima .
What is the Aghor Guru Peeth in Banora, Raigarh?
The Aghor Guru Peeth at Banora in Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh is a spiritual centre of the Aghor tradition, housing the statue of Aghoreshwar Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram Ji , a revered 20th-century saint who gave the tradition its modern, socially engaged form.
Who is Baba Priyadarshi Ram Ji?
Baba Priyadarshi Ram Ji is the current spiritual head of the Aghor Guru Peeth in Banora , Raigarh, and is considered the guiding authority of the peeth's religious and social activities.
What is Guru Purnima and when is it observed?
Guru Purnima is an annual Hindu observance dedicated to honouring teachers and spiritual guides. It falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha — in 2026, on 29 July .
When did Vishnu Deo Sai become Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh?
Vishnu Deo Sai became Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in December 2023 after the BJP's victory in the state assembly elections.
