Swami Avimukteshwaranand slams Rahul Gandhi over Manusmriti remarks at Pune event
Synopsis
Swami Avimukteshwaranand's broadside against Rahul Gandhi over Manusmriti verses spotlights a recurring fault line in Indian politics — the contest over who gets to interpret ancient scripture in the public square. Gandhi's Pune remarks were framed around women's autonomy; the Swami's counter-frames the same text as one of protection, not control. Neither side is backing down.
Key Takeaways
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Tuesday publicly rebuked Rahul Gandhi over remarks made at a Congress event in Pune .
Gandhi cited a verse from the Manusmriti at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme to argue against patriarchal norms, calling the words 'a shame.' The Swami argued the Sanskrit term 'Rakshati' means 'to protect,' not 'to control,' offering a counter-interpretation of the verse.
He rejected alleged claims linking the BJP to the Manusmriti, stating India is governed by its Constitution .
The Swami noted Gandhi had previously been declared 'excommunicated from Hinduism' by his group over similar remarks.
He warned that continued criticism of Sanatan scriptures without proper study would face strong public opposition.
Spiritual leader Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Tuesday, 26 August issued a sharp rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, over remarks Gandhi made at a Congress event in Pune regarding the Manusmriti and Sanatan cultural traditions. The Swami called on Gandhi to abandon what he described as an 'anti-Hindu mindset, false propaganda, and misinformation.'
What Rahul Gandhi Said
Gandhi's remarks came during the Congress party's youth outreach programme, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', held in Pune on Saturday. He stated that women belong to themselves — not to their fathers, husbands, or sons — and cited a verse from the Manusmriti to underscore his point.
'I would like to quote here the Manusmriti, which says clearly that in childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth she belongs to her husband and, when her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent. These words are a shame. These words should not have been spoken,' Gandhi said.
He also described India's greatest strength as lying in the 'seventy crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams' of its women.
The Swami's Rebuttal
In a press statement, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said Gandhi's remarks revealed 'utter ignorance, superficial understanding and malicious attitude towards the Sanatan tradition.' He alleged that presenting verses from ancient religious texts out of context for political gain amounted to an insult to India's cultural heritage and an attempt to mislead society.
The Swami offered an alternative interpretation of the verse Gandhi cited. He argued that the Sanskrit phrase 'Pita Rakshati Kaumare, Bharta Rakshati Yauvane...' was not about subjugation or control of women but about the responsibility of family and society to protect, respect, and provide for them. 'From the perspective of Sanskrit grammar, 'Rakshati' means to protect. In its literal sense, it refers to providing security and does not imply any form of control,' he said.
Sanatan Tradition and Women, According to the Swami
Swami Avimukteshwaranand further argued that women have traditionally occupied a significant and revered place in Sanatan thought. He cited the saying 'Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devtaah' and pointed to women scholars and sages such as Gargi, Maitreyi, and Lopamudra as evidence that the tradition recognised women as sources of power and creation — not merely as dependants.
BJP-Manusmriti Link Rejected
The Swami also rejected what he described as Gandhi's alleged assertion linking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Manusmriti. He stated that the governance and political system of independent India are governed by the Constitution of India, and that 'forcibly linking a political party to the Manusmriti to build a political narrative is another fabricated claim.'
Prior 'Excommunication' and Warning
Swami Avimukteshwaranand noted that Gandhi had previously been declared 'excommunicated from Hinduism' by his group for repeatedly spreading what they described as false and misleading propaganda about the Manusmriti and other scriptures, across Parliament and public platforms. He warned Gandhi and the Congress party against making what he called misleading or derogatory comments about Sanatan scriptures without complete study. 'If such rhetoric continues, the enlightened and Sanatan-loving sections of society will continue to strongly and vociferously oppose this ideological immaturity,' he added.
Point of View
Gender, and electoral identity — and both sides know it. Gandhi's Pune framing was a calculated appeal to women voters using a text that carries genuine historical controversy; the Swami's rebuttal is equally calculated, recasting the same verse as benevolent protection rather than patriarchal control. What is missing from both positions is acknowledgement that the Manusmriti is a contested, internally inconsistent text that scholars have debated for centuries — not a monolith that either side can claim cleanly. The 'excommunication' rhetoric, meanwhile, raises a separate concern: using religious authority to silence political speech is a tactic that deserves scrutiny regardless of which side deploys it.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rahul Gandhi say about the Manusmriti at the Pune event?
At the Congress 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Pune, Rahul Gandhi cited a verse from the Manusmriti stating that a woman must remain under male authority at every stage of life, calling those words 'a shame.' He argued that women belong to themselves, not to their fathers, husbands, or sons.
Why did Swami Avimukteshwaranand criticise Rahul Gandhi?
Swami Avimukteshwaranand accused Gandhi of presenting Manusmriti verses out of context for political gain, calling it an insult to India's cultural heritage. He argued the cited verse was about protection of women, not subjugation, and urged Gandhi to abandon what he termed an 'anti-Hindu mindset.'
What is the Swami's interpretation of the Manusmriti verse Gandhi quoted?
The Swami argued that the Sanskrit word 'Rakshati' in the verse means 'to protect,' not 'to control.' He said the verse reflects the family's and society's duty to safeguard women at different life stages, rather than asserting authority over them.
Has Swami Avimukteshwaranand taken action against Rahul Gandhi before?
Yes. The Swami stated that his group had previously declared Rahul Gandhi 'excommunicated from Hinduism' for what they described as repeated false and misleading propaganda about the Manusmriti and other Hindu scriptures across Parliament and public platforms.
Did the Swami address the alleged BJP-Manusmriti link?
Yes. Swami Avimukteshwaranand rejected the alleged claim that the BJP endorses the Manusmriti, stating that independent India is governed by its Constitution. He called any attempt to link a political party to the Manusmriti 'a fabricated claim' made to build a political narrative.
